CONTEXT
Mozambique, in particular the province of Cabo Delgado, has experienced an increase in the exploration of mineral resources in recent years. There are two main types of activity: (1) The formal extraction industry, focusing mainly on the extraction of oil, gas, coal and other fossil fuels, and (2) artisanal mining, informal and on a small scale, but with direct repercussions on social and economic development, as well as health and the environment around the areas. It is carried out by informal workers known as “garimpeiros”. The attention of the government, international companies, and national and international organisations who work to ensure an efficient and distributive management of resources is focused on the formal industry, and artisanal mining is still not receiving the attention it needs to warn people of the risks it presents and minimise them.
The increase in artisanal mining is a factor of the country’s underdevelopment. More than half of the Mozambican population lives in a state of absolute poverty, and agriculture is the main source of livelihood. The lack of rain, substandard techniques and climate change have reduced production and caused living conditions to deteriorate. Artisanal mining has spread due to the high levels of poverty in rural areas, general unemployment – particularly among young people -, the lack of opportunities for higher education, tolerance of the government and, sometimes, the high returns that can be obtained from mining activities.
CONSEQUENCES
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES:
1. Erosion caused by the lack of vegetation and poor soil fertility.
2. Obstruction of the waterway system caused by sedimentation due to the enormous craters.
3. Water contamination caused by the stone crushing and washing process during extraction, mainly of gold. Artisanal miners around the world use mercury to extract gold. The “whole-ore amalgamation” technique uses 10-25g of mercury to produce 1g of gold. In recent years it has been observed that this technique is very widespread, with artisanal gold mining being the biggest, most significant cause of mercury contamination in the world, making up 37% of man-made emissions in the atmosphere (PNUMA).
SOCIAL IMPACT:
1. E There are social conflicts between the miners and the companies which formally exploit natural resources by means of mining and forestry concessions.
2. The deterioration of working conditions, due to miners working in precarious situations without basic work safety and hygiene standards being met.
3. A nomadic lifestyle with substandard hygiene and safety conditions, and extreme dependence on food products, as well as a limited number of alternatives for generating income, creative opportunities, learning opportunities, the ability to choose the quality of work, recreation activities, limited safety, cultural values and mental health.
4. Migratory movements and the disorganised population increase close to the mines cause imbalances and a shortage of basic services, with minimum coverage in terms of both education and health.
5. The separation and fragmentation of families for prolonged periods of time; economic needs prevail over traditional values.
6. Child labour has been observed, violating the rights of minors and the communities in general.
7. According to UNICEF, in 2012, 24% of young people between the age of 15 and 18 had worked in prostitution in mining areas.
8. The United Nations has flagged up a correlation between the extraction industry and the increase in STIs and HIV.
ECONOMIC IMPACT:
1. The mining activity in general is promoting the illegal mining and commercialization mostly because of the difficulties the miners face to operate in the formal market.
2. The Terra Viva Centre states that food and nutrition insecurity has risen as a result of agriculture being neglected in favour of artisanal mining.
“Conflict Minerals” campaign
A campaign by Justícia i Pau to provide information on the relationships between technological products, and the armed conflicts and violations of human rights in countries where the minerals required for the production are extracted, one of which is gold.
Terra Civa Centre – Studies and Environmental Law
A Mozambican NGO, a partner of medicusmundi, working in environmental research and intervention. A meeting of professionals from different areas of environmental and natural resource management. In particular, they work on laws relating to the environment, conservation and environmental management, environmental information and education, rural economics and environmental sociology.
Danish NGO, “Dialogos”
A partner of medicusmundi which focuses its work on researching artisanal mining, particularly in developing countries, and its social and environmental impact.
Alternatives to mercury
Gold can be processed without mercury.
Minamata Convention
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
