Small scale gold miners in the country face vast environmental and socio-economic challenges, impeding their full potential in economic contribution, planetGold now says.
The planetGOLD Kenya is a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry.
Its objective is to support formalisation of the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector and the development of responsible mining, by increasing the government and private sector’s capacity and improving regulatory frameworks
According to planetGold, the low potential exists despite the mines capacity of being a major source of livelihoods for many micro scale operations in the country.
According to planetGold Kenya project manager Mayiani Saino, ASGM are still finding it hard to maximise on the currently available resources towards profitability and growth.
“ASGM miners often lack access to finance, technology and training, while others are informalised, factors that limit their productivity and profitability,” Saino said.
She however notes there are vast opportunities in the sector, for instance, the potential to employ more than 300,000 people, that can be realised through strategic partnerships which will also address the aforementioned challenges.
“There are also opportunities to improve the ASGM sector through innovation and responsible sourcing practices.”
She spoke at the 2023 Kenya Mining Week Expo and Conference in Nairobi.
According to planetGold, formalisation concerns make it difficult for government to regulate the sector and enforce environmental and social standards, including deforestation, pollution of water sources and loss of biodiversity.
“The prevalence of illegal mining practices which often involve the use of child labour and exploitation of vulnerable communities that not only perpetuates poverty and inequality, but also poses serious health and safety risks to the miners, is another great concern,” planetGold says.
"They also often use hazardous chemicals such as cyanide and mercury in the extraction process. This is harmful to the environment and also endangers miners’ health.”
Among key ares of partnership highlighted to address these concerns include pact with the mining equipment manufacturers, to provide affordable and efficient equipment to ASMM miners seeking to increase productivity and profitability.
Secondly, partnership between ASGM and the local governments would be essential to build relationships with the local enforcers to help the miners gain legal recognition and access to formal markets.
Further, partnering with national government organisations was emphasised as it could provide access to funding, training and technical assistance for the miners.
Nevertheless, Planet Gold says partnering with refiners and traders can help ASM miners access formal markets and increase their bargaining power, a preferential move towards poverty alleviation.
Environment Principal Secretary Festus Ng’eno reiterated the government's commitment to addressing the challenges that ASGM face, in a bid to make them more feasible and sustainable.
He noted that the government for instance, among other initiatives, has ratified the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a treaty that seeks to reduce and where feasible eliminate the use and release of mercury from ASGM.
In this respect, planetGold Kenya says its working in collaboration with the government, the UNDP and the Ministry of Environment in the piloting programme of mercury-free technologies in Kakamega, Migori, Vihiga, and Narok counties.