The PlanetGOLD Uganda Project is set to introduce free mercury-free mining machines to artisanal and small-scale gold miners by March 2027. This move aims to reduce mercury use and improve mining practices in the country. The project, led by PlanetGOLD Uganda Project Manager Emilian Manishimwe, is currently undertaking procurement preparations. This includes identifying potential suppliers, assessing equipment costs, and conducting site assessments to determine the most suitable machinery for different mining areas.
According to Manishimwe, the assessments will guide the selection of appropriate equipment for the miners. The organisation targets March 2027 for the machinery to arrive in Uganda and potentially be installed at selected mining sites. The introduction of mercury-free equipment will provide miners with safer alternatives to conventional gold processing methods, which heavily rely on mercury. This is a significant step towards reducing the health and environmental risks associated with mercury use in mining.
Manishimwe also identified high licensing costs as a major obstacle preventing artisanal and small-scale miners from formalising their operations. The expensive and highly centralised licensing process forces many miners to operate informally, limiting their access to credit and other financial services. This informal operation makes it challenging for miners to access safer technologies and better equipment, perpetuating the use of mercury in gold processing.
The PlanetGOLD Uganda Project will continue to sensitise miners about the dangers of mercury, link them to financial institutions, and improve access to credit. This will enable miners to invest in safer technologies and alternatives to mercury. These concerns were raised during the Fourth Annual Stakeholders Meeting of the PlanetGOLD Uganda Project, focusing on Financing an inclusive and mercury-free future for Artisanal and Small-scale Gold mining.
Altanbagana Bayarsaikhan, PlanetGOLD Programme Lead at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), commended the Government of Uganda for its efforts to eliminate mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining. However, he called for stronger interventions to address barriers to formalisation and improve miners’ access to affordable financing. This will help miners transition to safer and more sustainable practices.
Dr. John Ekure, a board member of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), urged artisanal miners to recognise mercury as a serious threat to their health and livelihoods. He challenged miners to embrace safer alternatives already available, warning that the economic benefits of gold mining should not come at the expense of human life. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has also called for increased stakeholder engagement and investment in economically viable mercury-free technologies.
The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, through Assistant Commissioner for Geosciences Grace Nassuna, emphasised the need for affordable financing options for artisanal miners. This will help them acquire modern equipment, improve gold recovery, and increase productivity. The Mining and Minerals Act, 2022, prohibits the use of mercury in mineral processing, making the adoption of safer alternatives a legal requirement.
Key points
- PlanetGOLD Uganda to introduce free mercury-free mining machines to artisanal and small-scale gold miners by March 2027.
- High licensing costs hinder artisanal and small-scale miners from formalising their operations.
- The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development calls for increased stakeholder engagement and investment in mercury-free technologies.
