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GGMC in move to boost monitoring capabilities for mining activities
Kaieteur News – The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission GGMC will be taking steps to strengthen its monitoring capabilities through the use of technology such as the Geographic Information System (GIS).
Senior Environmental Officer at GGMC, Quincy Thom.
This was disclosed during a televised programme hosted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the recent observance of national mining week. According to Quincy Thom, Senior Environmental Officer at GGMC, the move to boost the monitoring capacity is even more essential with the introduction of underground mining.
“One of the things, we have to look at is the underground mines. Now, we have two large scale underground mines that will be coming on stream that is Aurora Gold Mines and Sand Spring Mines. With that happening we have to train our engineers to manage underground mines,” he said, adding that officers are currently being trained to monitor the type of mining.
“We currently have persons being trained to monitor underground mines so that when it comes on stream, persons will be able to go and do effective monitoring and also offer technical advice,” Thom noted.
Meanwhile, Process Coordinator at GGMC, Donald Singh said that the Commission will also be adding the use of technological equipment to boost its monitoring capabilities. He explained that the Commission has been working tirelessly on trying to implement new programmes.
Process Coordinator at GGMC, Donald Singh
“It will benefit everyone trying to have the data; good data and data when you need… In the Commission, we have been moving towards a more data based centric approach and enterprise type system for GIS. So basically all of our Geospatial data is collected and database is created giving easy access to those who need it. I am happy to say that we looking at open source technologies,” he added.
Singh said too that they are other options that are also useful like GIS. He noted that the regular monitoring of surface mining activity is therefore necessary to ascertain and mitigate impacts.“QGIS is very big game changer in the industry because it’s free … As a developing country we need these sustainable technology there are a few leapfrog technology such as drones that help use with monitoring things like land use management, critical decision making and issues such as fatalities in the industry,” Singh added.
The GGMC has been in the stage of preliminary assessment for geospatial methods. According to GGMC, geographic information systems and remote sensing assets already in place at the regulatory agencies can be optimised through training in support of the monitoring process to alleviate some of the reported challenges.
At a previous forum, GGMC officers had noted that the type of technology used would assist in challenges such as monitoring surface mining activities in Guyana: limited manpower, budget limitations, data inaccuracy/subjectivity, limited access to remote locations, and hostile encounters with miners.
Additionally, geospatial methods may be applied in Guyana to support monitoring of environmental pollution, detect land cover change, and inform policy in the sector.
The need for effective alternative methods of monitoring surface mining activities in Guyana, and the opportunity to leverage available geospatial components towards reducing undesirable environmental impacts.
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