How This Mine in the Philippines Has Gone Mercury Free

In the Philippine municipality of Paracale, over half of the population is involved in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, either as workers, financiers, processors, or gold panners. Many operations use the toxic chemical mercury to extract their gold and use outdated equipment -- but one site is home to a brand new mercury-free processing system thanks to the planetGOLD Philippines project.

The upgraded facility eliminates harmful emissions of mercury while also supporting livelihoods by enabling miners to recover more gold than before when they were using mercury. Learn more in the latest episode of planetGOLD's Dispatches from the Field, and view the full series on our website.

New Resources        

Analysis of Financial Access Interventions for the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Sector

In most countries, artisanal and small-scale miners — who are typically part of the informal economy — struggle to access formal financial services. In this new set of case studies, planetGOLD worked with practitioners from initiatives carried out in 6 different countries (Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Peru, and Tanzania) to analyze the finance models and mechanisms they tested. ?This research covers a diverse range of finance providers, investigating barriers and perceived risks encountered during their development.

Learn more about these initiatives carried out by The Impact Facility, Minera Orex, Solidaridad Network, GoldFinX, FADEV, GDIAM and IMPACT.

Country Project News & Updates        

Supporting nationwide consultation on new mining regulations?in Uganda

Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development recently held a nationwide series of consultation workshops focused on proposed artisanal mining regulations and their implementation as outlined in the Mining and Minerals Act, 2022. Supported by the planetGOLD Uganda project, these workshops represented a critical step towards formalising the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, aiming to promote a more regulated and responsible approach to mining in Uganda. The primary goal of the workshops was to consult with artisanal miners and other stakeholders while raising awareness about the new regulations.?Read the article and watch the video .

Weaving gold: Sagada's history of artisanal and small-scale gold mining

In the beautiful village of Sagada, Mt. Province in the Philippines, nestled among the magnificent mountains of the Cordillera region, an enchanting narrative unfolds. Tune in to the third episode of planetGOLD Philippines' documentary series, "Power of Gold: Stories from the Ground" to witness how the seamless combination of traditions and innovation showcases resilience and optimism, leaving behind a legacy as enduring as the mountains themselves. Watch the video .

Mercury has long poisoned gold miners. This new strategy is helping change that.

This impactful article, written by UN Environment Programme, highlights powerful planetGOLD stories, shedding light on the dangers of mercury in gold mining and the innovative strategies being used to combat it. Featuring the experiences of miners and the success of the planetGOLD initiative, the story showcases the shift toward safer, mercury-free practices. Learn how these efforts are making a difference for both people and the planet. Read the article .

planetGOLD Peru closing event in the Puno region

After 5 years of implementation, the planetGOLD Peru project officially closed its activities in the Puno region on June 27 and 28 with a ceremony in the city of Puno and the inauguration of 4 new gravimetric plants in the city of Ananea. The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of the Environment, the United Nations Development Programme, the Regional Management of the Environmental Authority of Puno, the Regional Directorate of Energy and Mines of Puno, and mining representatives from the district of Ananea. Read more and watch the video .

Training and awareness raising for key players in the planetGOLD Madagascar project

As part of the planetGOLD Madagascar project, information and awareness raising among key stakeholders are essential. This initiative is part of the strategy for eliminating mercury from the ASGM sector in Madagascar. An information and awareness session on the importance of reducing and eliminating mercury in the sector was organized in April at the National Training Center for Forest Technicians in Angavokely, where discussions focused on the main points of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the objective and content of the planetGOLD Madagascar project. Read more (in French).

Facilitating meaningful dialogue on ASGM in Guinea

The planetGOLD Guinea project recently established discussion groups in Madinana, Siguiri and Kouroussa aimed at engaging local communities in meaningful dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of artisanal mining. This group is dedicated to promoting responsible practices, improving the living conditions of miners, and fostering social cohesion within mining communities. Through this collaborative effort, planetGOLD Guinea continues to support the transition toward more responsible and community-centered mining practices. Watch the video (in French).

Nicaragua joins the planetGOLD programme

In June the Government of Nicaragua, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines and UNIDO, announced the launch of the planetGOLD Nicaragua project. The launch event was held in a hybrid manner, with a national call of more than 120 representatives from the ASGM sector, successfully reaching the main mining territories of Triángulo Minero, Matagalpa, León, Chontales, and Rio San Juan. During the event the scope, planned activities, and expected results of the project were discussed.?Read the article .

Launch of the?inclusive insurance "Tu Seguro de Oro" in Bolivia

With a special focus on the Chiquitania region, the planetGOLD Bolivia project recently launched an inclusive insurance program called "Tu Seguro de Oro" which is designed to respond to the critical needs of the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. This offers health and life coverage for miners and their families, which represents a significant advance in terms of economic stability and community well-being. The insurance is completely digital and accessible. To learn more read the article and watch the video (in Spanish).

Capacity-building workshop for media professionals in C?te d’Ivoire

The planetGOLD project in C?te d’Ivoire recently hosted a capacity-building workshop for media professionals aimed at sharing vital information about planetGOLD and the Minamata Convention on Mercury, the challenges of artisanal mining, and enhancing journalists’ skills for in-depth coverage of issues related to the environment, especially in the context of artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Following their workshop, planetGOLD C?te d’Ivoire?took press professionals on a field visit. Watch the video (in French).

Consultative workshop on social license for ASGM

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) team executing the planetGOLD Ghana project recently organised a consultative workshop in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality on the fostering of social license for operators in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) value chain. The workshop was aimed at gathering insights and expertise from stakeholders to facilitate the development of a robust Social License Protocol (SLP) that aligns with the project's objectives and the needs of the ASGM sector in Ghana.?Read the article.

Events        

Join us for an insightful webinar on responsible supply chain issues

This webinar, taking place on October 24th, 2024, will discuss lessons learned from the recent study “Documenting planetGOLD programme experiences with ASGM supply chain mechanisms ,”?particularly around overcoming barriers to formal market participation. Insights from piloting a new tool to assess the planetGOLD Criteria’s application in Ecuador will also be discussed.

Join experts from the Alliance for Responsible Mining and Levin Sources to learn more. Interpretation will be provided in English, French, and Spanish. Visit the website for more information.

Other Key Resources        

planetGOLD 2024 Global Forum on ASGM Meeting Report

The 2024 Global Forum on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining was held in Batangas, Philippines, in June 2024. Organized by the planetGOLD programme, this event aimed to gather a diverse range of stakeholders, including miners, policy and technical experts, government officials, international agencies, and private sector representatives. The primary goals were to inform, educate, and exchange best practices to enhance, professionalize and eliminate mercury in the ASGM sector. ?The meeting report is available in English ,?French and?Spanish .

ASGM Tailings Management and Reprocessing Governance

This report recently published by the IGF is designed to inform policy-makers about ASGM extraction, processing, tailings generation, management, and reprocessing. It also covers mercury recovery, management, and disposal. The authors examine existing governance frameworks, including guidelines from the United Nations Environment Programme, and provide recommendations for policy-makers to improve awareness, education, safety, and regulation of ASGM tailings. Click here to access the report in English, French or Spanish.

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