Burkina Faso and Kenya are among eight nations to participate in a new USD$180 million program to support mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the developing world. Led by the United Nations and backed by the Global Environment Facility, the GEF GOLD program seeks to phase out mercury use…
Dangerously high levels of mercury and a related toxin are pervasive in rivers and soils near artisanal gold mines in Senegal, according to a new study from Duke University. “Nearly every sample we collected from in and around four mining villages contained mercury concentrations higher than regulatory standards set by…
A mining company in the South Kordofan region of Sudan has halted operations after two attacks on company workplaces within the space of a week. The attacks on Leha Mining Company at its Baloula site led to a total shutdown, Radio Dabanga said. There were no casualties reported in either…
The Minamata Convention on Mercury enters into force today, following a 90-day period since the necessary threshold of 51 ratifications was achieved in May. The Minamata Convention enters into force with 128 signatory nations and 74 ratifying countries, including the most recent addition of Brazil last week. Among the countries…
The European Union and seven member states whose governments ratified on Thursday the Minamata Convention on Mercury have lifted to 51 the total number of ratifications – and in doing so, reached the threshold that will now put the Minamata provisions into force. The new ratifications by Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary,…