Guyana seeks assistance in dealing with impending mercury ban fallout

Dec 19, 2012 News

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Guyana has won support to delay the phasing out of mercury use in gold mining and is asking for help to deal with the fallout.
According to a release from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, the issue of mercury in mining was a main topic of discussion in the Regional consultations for Latin America and the Caribbean, which was held in Bogota, Colombia, November 26-29.
The consultations were held to facilitate regional preparations for the fifth session of the Inter-governmental Negotiating Committee (INC5) – to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury – which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from 13 to 18 January 2013.
Representing Guyana at the forum were Minister Robert Persaud; Rickford Vieira, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Mahendra Persaud, Executive Member of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association.
The event attracted governmental representatives, observers from non-government organizations and other stakeholders from all parts of the world, in order to facilitate negotiations for the preparation of a global legally binding instrument on mercury.
According to the ministry, issues discussed at the forum related to mercury supply and trade, mercury storage, health, mercury waste and the institution of a financial mechanism to assist developing countries and economies in transition.

Negotiations centred on the implementation of stipulations for prohibiting or restricting the production and export of mercury from identified supply sources and facilitating a reduction in the manufacture, distribution in commerce or sale of mercury-added products.
The issue of mercury is a contentious one, with miners and authorities admitting no cheaper, alternative methods at the moment.
EXEMPTIONS
It was decided that Latin American and Caribbean countries should seek allowable exemptions for products such as batteries, measuring devices, switches and relays, topical antiseptics, and various lamp categories. It was also noted that these exemptions might necessitate the institution of a licensing regime at the national level to facilitate the regulation of the importation of mercury-based products and mercury elemental and mercury compounds for use in sectors such as Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM).
At the forum, the issue of storage was seen as being integral to the regulation of mercury-based products and processes. Above ground storage was considered as being the most consolidated and, technically, the most feasible option for the long-term storage of mercury. It was noted that underground storage is an option to be considered, but that some countries might not meet the conditions required to host an underground facility, either because of geographic, legal and/or cultural conditions.
In terms of environmental health, it was noted that mercury and its compound are highly toxic to humans, ecosystems and wildlife and that even relatively low doses can have serious neurotoxic effects on adults and children. Initially considered as an acute and local problem, mercury contamination was now understood to be a global challenge with chronic effects. As such, the negotiating parties deliberated on the institution of various strategies which are meant to: identify vulnerable populations based on the risk of exposure to establish the promotion and prevention measures necessary to improve their resilience and reduce the chances of health conditions; develop indicators of environmental health to enable follow up and assess compliance with established means for the promotion and prevention of mercury exposure of vulnerable populations;  and establish rules and controls to prevent exposure.
Guyana’s main arguments in the negotiations were noted in its position paper which was prepared by an interdisciplinary committee comprising of stakeholders from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, Geology and Mines Commission, Environmental Protection Agency and the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association.
IMPACT
The position paper, which was presented at the negotiations, stated the effects that the proposed ban on mercury trade can have on Guyana’s mining industry and the associated economic development trajectories of the Government of Guyana. As such, a call was made for transfer of technology, financial support and other assistance for developing countries (such as Guyana) which will be affected by the cross-cutting decisions made at these negotiations, including the global ban on the trading of mercury.
Guyana’s team was successful in getting mercury in Small and Medium Scale Mining being declared as one of the accepted uses for Mercury and this was unanimously agreed to and added to the position paper. Countries such as Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, like Guyana, had thousands of families that are solely dependent on Mining for their survival and while being cognizant of the fact that Mercury needed to be phased out in the long run, recognized the impact it would have economically and socially on many small miners.
The Parties discussed the establishment of a mechanism to provide financial and technical cooperation and assistance, including the transfer of technologies, to Parties that are developing countries and economies in transition, so that they can implement the control measures stipulated in the globally binding instrument on mercury. It was decided that the fund should receive contributions from donor countries in order to cover all the incremental costs incurred by the aforementioned parties so that they can be compliant with control measures established under the legally binding instrument on mercury.
There was no time frame for the phasing out of mercury from gold mining. However the Latin America and Caribbean group will recommend, at the Conference of Parties at the INC5, that a timeframe be established which should give parties time to prepare for the implementation of the procedures and provisions that prohibit the production, sale, distribution or use of mercury and associated compounds after the entry into force of the convention.
These measures, and the associated decisions taken at the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) group, will be presented in Geneva at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to prepare a global legally binding instrument on mercury (INC5). The LAC will negotiate as one body for the mutual benefit of all associated countries and will cooperate with each other and with relevant intergovernmental organizations and other entities, as appropriate, to achieve the objectives of the convention.
This year, declared gold production has already passed a record-breaking 400,000 ounces, thanks to mainly small and medium scale miners who have been spurred by high world prices.
Gold is the biggest earner of the Guyana economy for the last couple years.

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