Mr. James B. Willis

Paramaribo, August 29 , 2002

Dear Mr. Willis,

We have noticed that there is no contribution of Suriname in the draft report with regard to the use of mercury.

We therefore send to you our contribution with regard to the main source of mercury use in Suriname, that is the artisanal goldmining, which takes place in the interior of the country.

Hoping this information will be helpfull.

Regards,

Ir. J.H. Abdul

The Director of  Energy, Mining and  Watersupply

 c.c  Ms. Aase Tuxen

Mercury use in the Artisanal Goldmining sector in Suriname

 In Suriname most of the mercury use is related to small scale gold digging activities. The small-scale gold mining sector involves thousands of people of mainly Maroon origin, together with thousand of Brazilian gold diggers (or garimpeiros). The method employed by these miners are in contrast to any modern development and Suriname faces enormous environmental and social problems derived from poor and detrimental mining methods practices. The miners of which most of them are illegal follow a ‘hit and run’ strategy, thus abandoning a deposit prematurely and causing significant large-scale environmental damage. The most common method used to recover fine-grained gold is mercury base. Roughly speaking, for each kilogram of gold recovered, the same amount of mercury is used of which 95% is released in the atmosphere. The remaining 5% will finds is way to the goldbuying centers in the capital Paramaribo. Gold production is estimated at 15000 kg every year. As a consequence an estimated 135 tonnes of mercury may have been emitted into the forest environment and probably urban atmosphere as well, since the beginning of the gold rush in 1993.

 Past activities

Government, non-government and private sector institutions have taken some initiatives in the past to find solutions for the problem.

1. In 1996 the Ministery of Natural Resources (Geological an Mining Department) with financial assistance from the Organisation of American States started a pilot project to introduce retorts to abate mercury pollution.

2.  In 1997 the Dutch Government financed an environmental impact study for a small-scale gold miner from the interior.

3. The Ministery of Agriculture and the University of Suriname carried out studies to determine the extant of mercury pollution and its possible threat for the export of fish in the period 1998-1999.

4. A local toxicologist outlined the effects on humans in a study.

The experiences and lessons learned can be summarized as follows. To achieve a sustainable development of the interior:

- A link, direct or indirect must be established between the communities in the interior and economic activities in their neighbourhood; this is very important because their existence is at stake.

- A higher level of local community participation and initiative in economic activities is required. This can be achieved through education and awareness programs and capacity building and active involvement of their own organisations.

- More Government input is required. More precisely there is a need for the Government to established its authority in close co-operation with and involvement of existing traditional authority structures to enforce regulations, law and order.

 Present activities

 1. A project to reduce the negative impacts of artisanal goldmining has been submitted to the O.A.S. for funding. The objective is the introduction of sustainable mining methods in the goldminingsector in Suriname. Execution will take place in 2003 and 2004.

The impact of the project on the intended beneficiaries will be:

Increased awareness of the population and miners on the dangers of the use of mercury.

Improved health, working and living conditions for the local population and the miners.

Higher level of organization and participation of the local with regard to new economic activities in their areas.

Deadline in and the elimination of the use of mercury in the gold mining sector within a year or two.

Increased gold production through the use of more efficient recovery techniques and consequently a higher income for the miners and the Government through higher tax and royalty income.

 2. The second project is a bilateral project between Suirname and Brazil, initiated by the offices of the Pan American Health Organization in Suriname and in Brazil. They  recently agreed upon a Technical Cooperation project between Countries (TCC)

The objective of this project is to reduce the negative impact from Artisanal Goldmining on Health and the Environment. This Technical Coorperation aims to prepare a detailed workplan for three studies on:

(a) Research on health and social behavior of artisinal  goldminers

(b) Bio-accumulation of methylated mercury in the food chain

(c) Introduction of sound mining techniques without the use of mercury

The specific objectives are:

(a) to reduce occupational and general health hazards for the goldminers in the interior of Suriname and their families;

(b) to reduce the negative health impact from gold mining on the general population in the affected area and

(c) to promote best mining practices with regards to elimination of the use of Mercury among artisanal gold miners.

 The expected results of this project are:

 1. Inventory and review of existing experience and practices in Brazil to:

a)       reduce the use of mercury in artisanal gold mining

b)      assess environmental exposure of the population to Mercury

c)       improve health conditions  at the mining sites and camps

 2. Detailed workplan for the implementation of three sub-studies:

a)       Research on health and social behavior of artisanal goldminers

b)      Bio-accumulation of methylated mercury in the food chain

c)      Introduction of sound mining techniques without the use of mercury.