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The Mozambican Government intends to gradually reduce and eliminate the use of mercury in artisanal gold mining, while also seeking to formalise thousands of miners who currently operate outside the legal system.
The initiative is part of Mozambique’s preparations to join the global PlanetGOLD project, which promotes safer, formal and mercury-free artisanal and small-scale mining.
According to the National Director for Environment and Climate Change, Sónia Muando, the country intends to draw on international experience to transform artisanal mining into a more organised and sustainable activity.
The Government has set a target to reduce mercury use in artisanal mining by 50% by 2030 and to formalise at least 60% of artisanal miners currently operating in the country.
Mercury is used by many miners to separate gold from other materials. Although it makes the process easier, the substance poses risks to human health and the environment.
Exposure to mercury can affect the nervous system, kidneys, memory, vision and motor coordination.
In artisanal mining, one of the main risks occurs when the mixture of gold and mercury is heated, releasing toxic vapours that can be inhaled by miners and nearby communities.
The Government’s plan provides for the gradual replacement of mercury with safer processing technologies, including gravity concentration methods and other solutions that allow gold to be recovered without the use of toxic chemicals.
The plan also includes transforming informal miners into licensed cooperatives and associations, as well as creating mechanisms to facilitate the legal sale of the gold they produce.
The National Institute of Mines is expected to lead the formalisation process, while environmental authorities will be responsible for introducing cleaner technologies, monitoring soil and river contamination, and restoring degraded areas.
The proposed model also includes the establishment of collective processing centres in some of the country’s main gold-producing areas, allowing miners to use safer equipment.
By joining PlanetGOLD, the Government expects to gain access to technical assistance, financing and experience from other countries that are adopting safer and more sustainable forms of artisanal gold production.
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