Govt mulls phasing out use of mercury in mining sector – Min Bharrat

– access to alternatives cited as major factor in phase-out

Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat related that the issue of sustainable mining is one that his Government is taking seriously while hinting that at some point in the future the use of mercury will be phased out.

These were the sentiments of the Minister during a regional workshop coordinated by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas, on reducing the use of mercury.
“We too, like Suriname, would have signed up for the Minamata Convention. And we too are committed to ensuring that we minimise the use of mercury. And I’m choosing my words very carefully. I don’t want to make a commitment that will just be lip service and we cannot keep.”
“There are those who would come and say, by next year we will stop the use of mercury. I cannot make such a commitment. But what I can assure you is that we’re working towards minimising, and at some point in time in the near future, stop the use of mercury,” Bharrat said.
At the same time, Minister Bharrat noted that affordable alternatives must be available to fill the void left by mercury. The Minister noted that this alternative must be easy for the small-scale miners to adapt to – no easy feat, according to the Minister.
“To stop the use of mercury, then we need an alternative. An alternative that is affordable. Yes, there are alternatives, but are they affordable? Can the small artisanal miners afford the alternatives that are available today?”

“And I’m surprised that there hasn’t been any new invention or any organisation working towards finding a cheap, reliable alternative to mercury that is environmentally friendly. That can increase our recovery rate. I haven’t seen any alternative we can use to mercury, that is affordable and our miners will accept.”
Meanwhile, WWF Guianas Director Dr David Singh also identified the need for alternatives as an important factor in phasing out mercury. The Director also lauded the Governments of Guyana and Suriname for the steps they have already taken toward phasing out mercury.
“Even though most people may know the harmful effects of mercury, people are willing to take risks with mercury use, as a means of earning a livelihood. But, as with any activity, people will make rational choices based on four factors. The first factor is the information available.”
“The second factor is alternatives. Thirdly, what are the costs of those alternatives. And fourthly, the confidence is built through peers. For instance, if people see a friend doing something differently, they will trust that friend,” Dr Singh said.
Mercury, also known as quicksilver, is a highly toxic chemical used in mining to bind gold together. Exposure to mercury fumes affects the nervous and reproductive systems and damages brain function.
Guyana signed onto the United Nations Minamata Convention on Mercury in 2013 and ratified the convention in 2014. Over the years the Ministry of Natural Resources has partnered with the WWF and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to draft a National Action Plan (NAP) which will see a phased reduction of the use of mercury in the mining sector to complete elimination by 2027 through the implementation of a phased mercury reduction strategy.
The NAP captures a number of objectives and strategies as outlined in the Minamata Convention. These include mercury use reduction, increasing the viability of small- and medium-scale mining, management of mercury waste, environmental assessment, contaminated sites, public health aspects and public information awareness and education.