Gold processing plant to be set up for artisanal miners

By Correspondent

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

A modern gold processing plant is to be built in the Murito village of Tarime district thanks to the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).


WWF Country Project Manager, Kelvin Robert told a mining stakeholders meeting that already 10m/- has been disbursed for the project.

He explained that the plant is meant to curb the use of mercury to extract gold, a process that is both hazardous to the environment and poses great risks to human health.

The meeting was attended by among others the Tarime District Commissioner's office, ABG representatives, Tarime District council and the National environmental management council (NEMC).

Robert said after signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with all stakeholders and completion of the feasibility study other processes including the awarding of tenders for the construction will be announced.

''We are hoping for more funds from other stakeholders…we have also consulted the giant ABG to share their experience in gold extraction and the processing procedures as well as other logistical support,” he detailed.

According to the ABG’s environmental manager, Thomas Moms, small scale miners are exposed to environmental and health hazards for dangerously prolonged periods because of their tendency to process gold using mercury and other unwarranted substances.

He said the artisanal miners also use other destructive methods such as detonating explosives adjacent to residential areas exposing them and their families to more environmental hazards.

He pointed out that ABG's core environmental conservation values are centered on placing emphasis on educating other miners on the best preventive measures a move that will see a reduction of funds been wasted to abate environmental degradation that could otherwise be avoided.

With the set up of the plant, well over 300 small scale miners operating in Nyamongo village on the perimeters of the country’s largest gold miner’s site, Africa Barrick Gold will be able to use safer advanced methods to process their gold.

The plant is also expected to improve the artisanal miners’ productivity by improving the efficiency with which they process their findings.  

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN