2013-2017
IMPROVING PRACTICES AT GOLD MINING SITES
© Solidaridad / Annemarieke van den Broek
2013-2017
SOLIDARIDAD
Solidaridad is an international civil society organisation that works with farmers, miners and workers across five continents to create fair and sustainable supply chains. The organisation helped to found the Fairtrade movement, and for decades has been developing solutions to the problems within global supply chains. We funded it to support two small- and medium- scale mines in Ghana and Peru.
CHALLENGE
© Solidaridad / Annemarieke van den Broek
ACTION
Solidaridad worked with the medium-scale mine Minera Yanaquihua in Peru and the E.K. Agyeman Mining Group, a small-scale concession in the southern region of Ghana. This ensured the adoption of improved mining practices and control systems, as well as helping with applications to certification schemes.
Solidaridad also engaged with artisanal and small-scale miners in the surrounding areas, assisting them to reach formalisation agreements with the mine and to increase their access to potable water, sanitation facilities and health care.
IN PERU
Minera Yanaquihua successfully obtained certification by the International Cyanide Management Code and the Responsible Jewellery Council, making it the fourth mining company in the country to achieve this important milestone.
IN GHANA
E.K. Agyeman Mining Group qualified as a medium-scale mine and obtained formal recognition under Ghanaian law.
IMPACT
The use of mercury among artisanal and small-scale miners’ associations in Peru and Ghana fell from 38% to zero.
PERUVIAN ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINERS
assisted to reach formalisation agreements with Minera Yanaquihua
PERUVIAN ARTISANAL AND SMALL-SCALE MINERS
completed training in safety and environmental management
GHANAIAN MEDIUM- AND SMALL-SCALE MINERS
in the areas surrounding E.K. Agyeman Mining Group applied for Fairmined certification
