GGDMA encouraging involvement in better mining practices project

‘…dry mining, with its environmentally friendly aspects, is the wave of the future’ – Executive Secretary of GGDMA, Mr. Edward Shields
GUYANA Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) has exhorted small and medium scale miners in Regions One (Barima/Waini), Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) and Eight (Potaro/Siparuni) to get involved in the project aimed at improving environmental management practices in the sector.

Called ‘Dry Mining and Tailings Management Pilot Project’, it is being executed in those three Regions, with funding from Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Through it, participating miners will be exposed to demonstrations of dry mining and construction of tailings management systems, which would result in higher gold recovery with little or no pollution of the environment.

One aspect will also entail demonstrating alternative end use and rehabilitation of mined out areas including replanting.

Executive Secretary of GGDMA, Mr. Edward Shields said his organization believes the involvement is a worthwhile one because dry mining, with its environmentally friendly aspects, is the wave of the future.

He added that environmentally friendly mining is a non-negotiable issue and encouraged miners in the targeted regions to learn the technology or run the risk of being left behind.

GGDMA, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and Guyana Environmental Capacity Development Mining Project are collaborating on the US$30M undertaking, which is in direct response to the high levels of pollution being perpetrated on hinterland waterways by the current method of hydraulicking.

Project Engineer, Mr. Peter Hutson said it should start later this month and the hope is that, at the conclusion, local miners would buy into the practices demonstrated and derive greater benefits to themselves as well as the environment in which they operate.

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