The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has begun a campaign in mining areas countrywide to ensure that small and medium scale operators  are working  in compliance with the regulations,  particularly as they  relate to the  environment.

Miners mulling their options during the  GGMC workshop on the Low Carbon Development Strategy at Mahdia last week.

The campaign targets operations in 14 locations in the  six mining districts in Guyana. Targeted are operations at Mahdia, Port Kaituma, Matthews Ridge , Tamakay, Aranka/Arangoy, Marudi Mountain , Frenchman Creek, Arakaka, Kurupung, Puruni Landing, Upper Mazaruni and Bartica.

It began on July 2 last, and will continue until August 15, officials disclosed. But even as the campaign begins gaining momemtum, many miners have started complaining that adhering to the regulations will lead to a significant increase in costs, which many of them could not afford.

“A tailings dam is an expensive structure. We don’t have the money to hire an excavator or bulldozer at $40,000 per hour for 20 to 30 hours to build a dam. Most of us will have to go out of operation now,” one spokesman said.

But Manager of the Mines Division of the GGMC, Mr Derek Babb, disclosed that notwithstanding these complaints, field staff will carry out planned inspections in each operation in each Mining District.

They will be looking for compliance with key environmental regulations such as tailings waste management, low turbidity in nearby rivers and creeks, and proper use of mercury and retorts.

They will  inspect compliance with  rules against mining in buffer areas such as rivers and creek banks, road sides, and around communities and approved nature reserves and parks.

They will also inspect compliance with regulations on sanitation- garbage and toilets, mine safety, dredge licensing, tributaries, registered laborers and production books.

Miners found defaulting will be given citations and directed to comply, or will be given cease work orders until they comply.

There will be zero tolerance for miners found discharging turbid or muddy water into rivers and creeks; they will be closed down, Mr Babb said.

He made the disclosures during a meeting/ workshop with miners in Region 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) at the Mahdia Primary School , last week.

The purpose was to discuss the topic : “Implications of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) proposed for Guyana in response to climate change for the small and medium scale gold and diamond mining sector.”

Mr Babb briefed miners on the topic and then miners organised themselves into three groups in which they spoke about the topic and recorded their views.

Babb disclosed that the LCDS was a very important consideration for miners, since Guyana could get between US$4.3 billion and US $23.4 billion for keeping the forest standing.

“Here we are talking about the Economic Value to the Nation (EVN) of our forest,” he said, adding that this value could be attained through avoided deforestation and /or degradation and protection of the water quality in rivers and creeks.

He added, “Miners will have to respond to the requirements for avoided deforestation and avoided forest degradation.”

He stressed too that the LCDS means that miners will have to develop the capability for exploration before they are allowed to mine.

“The “hit or miss” approach to mining has to go,” he said, adding that the GGMC will not allow them to cut down trees when they aren’t sure that there was gold underneath it.”

He said” The alternative to proper exploration prior to mining is no mining.”

He added too that the use of mercury will have to go.

Responding to disclosures of the imminent stringent application of the Mining Regulations, miners at Mahdia complained that they could not afford the additional costs involved.

They asked that  the GGMC help them build tailings dams and they would repay for these  over a period of time.

They also asked that GGMC provide training for them with respect to exploration for minerals  and improved mineral recovery in their operations.

Mr Babb told them that he would forward their comments and recommendations to the Commissioner of GGMC on his return to the City.

He however stressed that LCDS or no, small and medium scale miners have to gear for higher level operations which would mitigate the effects of their activities on the environment.

GGMC will also increase the Environmental Bond to ensure the rehabilitation and reforestation of mined out areas is started and established before a mining permit or claim license expires.