Georgetown, Guyana – (January 28, 2016) The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources will soon unveil a National Action Plan aimed at minimizing and, as far as possible, eliminating the use of mercury in mining operations.
Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, made this announcement at the Training of Trainers Workshop aimed at supporting Technical Training in Extractive Industries in Guyana, which was held this morning, at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre (ACCC).
Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman, delivering his feature address.
The training is a joint effort among the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Canadian International Resources and Development Institute and the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The programme will ensure that miners and officials are trained in international best practices, mines management and while also catering for the alternatives to mercury mining.
In his feature address at the event, the Minister said that the training initiative includes measures to modernise the technology used in the sector and reducing the dependence on mercury, in keeping with the Government’s goal of fostering greener, more sustainable and efficient gold mining practices.
“Amalgamation remains the preferred method of the recovery of gold from concentrates. This traditional processing has relatively low recovery rates, generally below 50 per cent, and is associated with the release of mercury unfortunately, into the environment. Globally, artisanal and small mining operations is reported to be responsible for over 700 tonnes per year of mercury emissions in the atmosphere and an additional 800 tonnes mercury releases to land and water, making it the largest anthropogenic source of mercury. This training intends to change that,” Minister Trotman said.
According to the Minister, Guyana, in particular, has not remained untainted by this reality as the use of mercury in the small and medium-scale mines have adversely impacted indigenous communities and the environment. In the wake of this, the Ministry of Natural Resources is in the process of finalising the National Action Plan which will be mandated to minimise and, where feasible, eliminate mercury releases in air, water and land by adopting environmentally sound management practices in a phased manner.
Additionally, the Compliance Division, which is expected to be added to the Ministry, will be tasked with ensuring that this Action Plan, once completed, is implemented.
Minister Trotman, in emphasising the relevance of the training to this goal, said that the training would ensure that workers in the extractive industries are prepared to deal with the advances being made, thereby ensuring that the Government meets its new mandate of greener and cleaner economy.
The Minister also pointed out that with the recent discovery of oil and gas in Guyana, the training will ensure that Guyanese are able to gain employment in these areas, when the demand for a workforce increases.
“A country’s prospects for development depend on its people; their skills and their training. Guyana is on a transformative path in this industry and we want to equip our workforce on a world class level,” Minister Trotman said. “We are ensuring that everyone is employable as a continuation of the new and fresh approach.”
Guyana’s extractive sector will be a boon to its economic development and though its vast potential has not yet been fully realised, already it contributes to the total wealth of the country, while meeting the commitments of the national low carbon green development, he added.
The training is also expected to drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the number of mining deaths.
Training sessions are expected to be held, for officials and miners, in Georgetown, Linden, Mahdia and in the North West. Plans are also in train to open expansion centres in these areas to facilitate the training sessions.
Dr. Adam Keifer, from the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute, makes a point at the extractive industry training session this morning.
Representative of the Canadian International Resources and Development Institute, Dr. Adam Keifer, who is in Guyana to assist with the project, said that it has been divided into three phases. Phase I will cater to consultations, meetings, sharing of ideas and introduction to the actual programme. Phase II will entail training sessions at the Guyana Mining School and Training Centre laboratory in Linden for one week and Phase Three will see field training with miners in Mahdia, Region Eight.
Ms. Sharon Miller, Chief of Operations at the Inter-American Development Bank, which will be funding the programme, said the Bank is pleased to lend its support as it believes that Guyana can be a trendsetter in this area in the future.
Ms. Sharon Miller, Chief of Operations of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Guyana
“We are happy to share in the start of this programme. Mining is central to the economic fortunes and environmental impact of a country and this sector occupies a central point in Guyana. There is really a strong commitment from the Government of Guyana in ensuring that there is a sustainable approach to mining and we applaud Guyana in this long-term commitment to environmental sustainability. This activity will add a new dimension to technical and vocational training and Guyana can really become a trail blazer in this regard,” she said.
