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30,000 kilos of mercury refused entry into Guyana -gold dealers now require EPA permit before being licensed
Minister Trotman being shown the new burning room
Government is tightening up with the use of mercury, with Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, recently refusing permission for the importation of 30,000 kilos.
Yesterday, the official disclosed that he was alerted by Mexico that an importer had signaled intentions of bringing that large quantity of mercury to Guyana.
According to Trotman, it was unclear what the mercury would have been used for.
Guyana has signed an international agreement to phase out mercury use in a few years, but local miners are insisting it still remains the cheapest alternative in recovery in the gold mining process.
The issue of mercury has been dominating the news recently. From polluting waterways, it has now engulfed the Guyana Gold Board and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, at the Brickdam compound they once shared.
Several staffers were found to have high levels of mercury in their systems. It is believed that they inhaled the fumes from the burning of gold at that Brickdam compound.
Staffers were sent home to recuperate and government announced that international experts were engaged to ensure the area was safe.
Buying by the Gold Board was halted and the process was being done at the facilities of a dealer, on Duncan Street.
Recently, the Gold Board was relocated to Crown Street, Queenstown, with Minister Trotman leading a team touring the new offices yesterday.
The new offices, refurbished to the tune of millions, now
Guyana Gold Board’s new location in Crown Street, Queenstown.
have new equipment that will ensure that staffers and neighbours are not affected and the fumes are not dangerous after a special process.
Present during the tour of the building were also General Manager, Eondrene Thompson, and Chairman of Gold Board, Gabriel ‘GHK’ Lall.
It was disclosed that the Gold Board is not buying any sponge gold (with mercury) because the system is not fully tested as yet. It is only purchasing smelted gold.
According to Trotman, the priority is to get it right to protect the staffers and neighbours. There is a school nearby.
The Chairman disclosed that a few customers with “sponge gold” were turned away.
With regards to mercury, they said that the Gold Board is also moving to ensure that all dealers secure an environmental permit before they receive the licence to operate.
According to Lall, Gold Board had examined eight or nine properties before finally settling for the Queenstown one. The property is said to be owned a Mr. Henry Brown.
It was disclosed that Gold Board will not be purchasing sponge gold in the city until it completes testing of new mercury control equipment.
“We’re only purchasing smelted gold, because the system is not fully tested and they are still working on that,” Thompson explained. The Gold Board has procured new mercury control equipment that will break down mercury emission during the burning process.
The equipment, which is valued in excess of $18M, is being installed by ACTLABS.
General Manager, Kevin Gomez, explained the equipment has a three-tiered system that breaks down mercury emission.
The new mercury control equipment
The mercury will first pass through a condensation unit, then be scrubbed through another system before being cooled and passed through an activated carbon checkpoint. It will finally be released into the atmosphere, Gomez explained.
He assured that any mercury released after processing would be way below the admissible level of 50,000 nanograms. The new facility has met approval by a Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) team which had assessed the Brickdam complex.
“We said to the gold dealers that they will now be required to have an environmental permit issued by the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] on a yearly basis if they are going to be licenced by the gold board to be dealers.”
Lall said the Board will overcompensate to ensure burning practices are safe and healthy for the surrounding environment and those using the facility.
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