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Guyana unveils 5-year plan to reduce mercury use
The Government of Guyana has signed on to a new international pact to control mercury emissions and gradually phase out its use altogether.
The signing of the Minamata Convention on Mercury took place during an international conference organised by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and held in Minamata, Japan on
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud signing the Minamata Convention on Mercury, in Japan.
Wednesday.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud, who signed the agreement, was accompanied by the Commissioner (ag) of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Rickford Vieira.
Local small miners have been nervous about plans to ban the dangerous mercury saying there is no immediate, cheaper way to recover gold. Mercury is used in the extraction process.
Government has actively been encouraging miners to lessen the use of mercury, which poses long term health and environmental risks.
Minister Persaud, during his presentation, made it clear that the Government of Guyana (GoG) recognises the environmental and human health risks of mercury use and supports the implementation of a global legally binding instrument on mercury that will examine its supply and trade, mercury-added products, manufacturing products in which mercury compounds are used, artisanal and small scale mining, emission, releases, storage and mercury wastes.
However, he explained that the Guyana Government proposed, for the forum’s consideration, a phased approach which should give parties time to prepare for the implementation of the procedures and provisions.
The Government, Persaud said, has also agreed that Guyana would need financial and technical assistance to achieve compliance. This approach has been supported by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association, while discussions were held with Amerindian and riverain communities.
Essentially, Guyana is proposing a phased implementation of the global legally binding instrument on mercury over a period of 10 years. The Japan Government has pledged its support to Guyana for phasing out the use of mercury, the Ministry said yesterday.
Japan is planning to provide US$2B in financial assistance to fight mercury pollution. Discussions were also held with UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, to support Guyana’s phasing out measures.
Guyana’s recommendations for financial support considered environmental education, capacity building activities, adoption of unambiguous gold mining policies, the strengthening of governmental institutions charged with environmental compliance, monitoring and introduction and adoption of low-mercury or mercury-free gold-processing technologies.
“In addition, international mechanisms should be instituted for North to South delivery of technical assistance and viable alternative technologies in order to facilitate readiness for the implementation of the policy.” Minister Persaud said
According to the Ministry, not only did Guyana attend the convention with a proposed phased approach, but an action plan was also outlined.
“The main aim of the action plan is to minimise and, where feasible, eliminate mercury releases to air, water and land from wastes by adopting Environmentally Sound Management (ESM).
It was proposed that the plan be implemented and completed within five years of its approval; preferably from 2013 to 2017.”
The Ministry also stressed that Guyana recognises that the treaty addresses a global consensus that mercury use currently poses serious health and environmental risks, but also draws attention to the need to be flexible and appreciative of the constraints that some countries will face in implementing the convention. “A phased approach can address these constraints and ensure broader support for the convention.”
Gold mining in recent years has been a major contributor to the economy as prices rose on the world market. Despite a drop in the prices this year, miners have still been investing heavily in operations in the interior.
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