Current Experience on the Mercury-Free Transition in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Philippines

Transcription

1 Current Experience on the Mercury-Free Transition in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on A rtisanal and Small Scale Mining Chinggis Khaan Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia RICHARD C. GUTIERREZ, J.D, Ll.M. BAN Toxics! Images: Luis Liwanag / Ban Toxics!

2 Mercury-Free Transition in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in the Presentation Outline Brief Profile of Ban Toxics! ASGM Background Mercury Mercury Trade Moving Forward Demand: Cleaner Gold Production Alternatives Supply: Phase-out Trade Environmentally Sound Storage and Disposal Observations / Recommendations Next Steps

3 Who We Are An independent non-profit environmental nongovernmental organization focusing on the Southeast Asian region on issues pertaining to: Environmental Justice Prevention of Toxic Trade products, wastes and technologies Trade, Human Rights and Governance Southeast Asian office of the Basel Action Network Active member of the global coalition on mercury Zero Mercury Working Group (ZMWG) Current Experience:

4 The Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Industry in the Provides employment to more than 350,000 miners including at least to 18,000 women and children. Supports the livelihood of about two million people. Comprises traditional and gold rush miners most of whom operate without legal mining titles. Largest source of mercury emission in the country. Current Experience:

5 Distribution of Gold Deposits in the Philippine gold resource/ reserve estimated to be more than 5 billion tons Gold deposits reported in more than 40 provinces

6 ASGM Profile Location of ASGM Activities in the Most miners work casually and informally. They do not have fixed earnings income depends on luck. Wages of mine workers range from $6 - $12 a day Financers (most of whom are mine owners and processors) earn $370 to $2,500 (or more) a month Most people are drawn into mining because the job does not accordingly require much qualification

7 MERCURY Is persistent and cycles globally Continues to be widely used Exposure has serious effects on children, women, and babies in the womb. Has an impact on global fishing May generate bigger problems in less-developed regions Interventions can be successful UNEP. Global Mercury Assessment, December 2002: Current Experience:

8 Mercury Trade Structure The known sources of mercury for gold mining in the are: European Union, Algeria, Kyrgyzstan, and China; Cost of mercury ranges from $130 to $750 per kg; Mercury is widely available; Mercury supply for ASGM is also provided by dental clinics which also operate as gold and mercury traders. Current Experience:

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11 Provinces with reported mercury use in ASGM Current Experience:

12 Mercury Use and Emission from ASGM Year Estimated Annual Mercury Release tons (Ban Toxics!, 2012) tons (Philippine Government estimate) tons from small-scale mining communities in Zamboanga del Norte and Camarines Norte (Appel, Perez) tons from small-scale gold mining in Northern Mindanao (DOH assessment submitted to UNEP) Early 90s 25 tons (Greer, 1993) A total of 140 tons in 3 years from 53 mining communities (Appleton et al., 1999) Current Experience:

13 Environmental Impacts of ASGM Contamination of water bodies and marine organisms due to cyanide and mercury pollution Landscape destruction and deforestation which further aggravates biodiversity loss Soil erosion, siltation and loss of soil productivity

14 Planning and Consultation Demand Supply Storage

15 Miners Government (National and Local) Civil Society Hg Phaseout Consultations

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17 Mercury-free techniques a. Gravity concentration b. Centrifugal method c. Magnetic sluice d. Shaking sluice Alternatives for cleaner gold production Telmer Photo: Gold Adventures Photo: Madden Steel Industries Photo: Oro Industries

18 Mercury reduction methods a. Retort b. Use of fume hood (with water box condenser) c. Mercury reactivation via electrolysis Alternatives for cleaner gold production Photo: USGS! Telmer Photo: DOST

19 Refining a. Direct smelting b. Use of borax Alternatives for cleaner gold production Photo: Ban Toxics!

20 Solutions are based NOT on technology alone! BUT in considering the following factors: - Type of ore; - Level of organization of the community; - Community acceptability; - Area of mine; - Political will; and - Committed individuals.

21 Ban Toxics, Dialogos and other Danish partners launched in 2011 Mercury Reduction in Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining in the Training miners with the help of other miners who have stopped using mercury - Teaching rural healthcare workers on the proper screening of mercury poisoning cases - Raising awareness on the dangers of mercury

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23 Pilot Project Site: Balbalan, Kalinga In Northern Mercury usage, approximately 2 tons per year 2,000 miners during offseason; 4,000 peak season Local organization Banao Bodong Association Whole ore amalgamation; amalgamation at panning; burning After 2 years of intervention: 1,100 miners converted Mercury use almost phased out Amalgam burning almost eliminated Banao Bodong Association banned mercury use Provincial Ordinance banning mercury Miners are enjoying: increased recovery, better gold quality Miners are earning a living without poisoning themselves and community

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26 Types elemental mercury can be classified based on its origin: Primary mercury unused, virgin mercury that is produced as the main product of mining activities (processing of the mercury ore cinnabar) Secondary mercury generated through recycling of mercury-containing wastes (catalysts, products, or decommissioned chlor-alkali plants) By-product mercury produced in the mining and processing of minerals other than mercury minerals (gold, natural gas, zinc, lead).

27 Estimated Amount of Excess Mercury USA*) DNSC DOE Region Est. Quantity (tons) 4,436 1,206 Remark Current stock managed by the govt. European Community**) 10,000 Resulted from export ban & chlor-alkali decommission Latin America and Caribbean***) 2,000 8,000 Excess starts in 2015 or earlier Asia Pacific****) 5,500 7,500 Excess starts 2027 or earlier 2017 *) **) Lynch, 2009 BiPRO, 2010 ***) ****) Maxson, 2009 Maxson, 2009

28 Main sources of the mercury released in the Virgin metal production, primarily from small scale mining of gold and silver (31.95%), Extraction and use of fuel and energy resources (20.45%), Other intentional uses (19.93%).

29 Recomended Option for Mercury and Mercury Containing Waste Management Secure Landfill Stabilized Waste Stabilization Facility Residue Waste Generator Low Level Mercury Containing Waste Collection Facility High Level Mercury Containing Waste Recovery Facility Elemental Mercury Local Storage Elemental Mercury Elemental Mercury National Storage

30 Available Infrastructure for ESM of Mercury Waste Management: Segregate 1.5 m 3 Closed Boxes 1.4 m 3 Closed Boxes 1.5 m 3 Open Top Boxes 3.2 m 3 Drilling Mud / Cuttings Box Source: PT PPLI

31 Available Infrastructure for ESM of Mercury Waste Management: Disposal Indonesia and Source: PT PPLI

32 Available Infrastructure for ESM of Mercury Waste Management: Above Ground Storage Indonesia and Source: PT PPLI

33 Observations ASGM is a complex development issue: it helps many families bring food to the table but has also created serious social, health and ecological risks The social, health and environmental costs of gold production are borne by communities and local governments where these operations occur. Mercury pollution in the is widespread and that unless and until urgent and drastic steps are carried out to contain further mercury discharge into the environment, the effects will be disastrous. There is no silver bullet or single solution to the problem on mercury pollution due to ASGM

34 Recommendations 1. Stop the global supply flow of mercury. 2. Prohibiting the trade and use of mercury and mercury compounds in all sectors in the. 3. Provide technical support to ASGM. 4. Provide needed working capital, credit facilities and suitable mining equipment or processes to ASGM. 5. Organize and strengthen ASGM groups. 6. Develop coherent national policy on mining and streamline regulatory and administrative procedures to remove barriers. 7. Increase awareness of toxic effects of chemicals, such as mercury, to miners, their families and affected communities.

35 Recommendations The government and civil society to initiate a dialogue to find out how and to what extent does ASGM fit in national development. Efforts towards internalizing the external costs of gold production must be carried out before we seriously consider mainstreaming ASGM into the national development agenda.

36 THANK YOU FOR LISTENING! 26 Matalino St., Suite 332 Eagle Court, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 PHILIPPINES Telephone: Photo Credits: Luis Liwanag/SSNC Buck Pago B/W pictures Ban Toxics! Ban Toxics! 26 Matalino St. Suite 332, Eagle Court, Diliman Quezon City, 3018 Tele Fax: