Brazil launches project to reduce the use of mercury in gold extraction

From the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME)

This is a machine translation of the press release originally published in Portuguese

On November 17, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) holds a seminar to launch the “National Action Plan for Mercury-free Gold Extraction” project, which will meet the commitment assumed by Brazil within the scope of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The event will present the main aspects of the project, which aims at a more sustainable and safe production for human health and the environment and will have a special focus on technical alternatives to the use of mercury.

Adopted by 128 signatories, including Brazil, the Minamata Convention aims to limit the use of mercury to the maximum and encourage the adoption of alternatives, protecting the environment and people. One of the obligations established in the international agreement is the development and implementation of a national action plan to eliminate this practice or drastically reduce the release of toxic metal into the environment, through the adoption of best practices and techniques.

Recognizing that artisanal and small-scale gold extraction is significant and that it presents sensitive and worrying social and environmental aspects, as with other countries in the Amazon Basin, Brazil intends to present its action plan by 2025.

The event is held jointly with the Foundation for the Technological Development of Engineering and the Research Center for Responsible Small Mining, from the University of São Paulo. The project was designed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program and will be funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

event agenda

8:30 am | Opening of face-to-face registration (prior confirmation of attendance required)

9 am | Welcome and start of the live stream

9:45 am | Opening table: presentation of the objectives and importance of the project

11 am | Interval - with presentation of contextualization videos

11:30 am | Expository table: description of the governance, work orientation and activities planned for the project

12h30 | Questions and answers

1:30 pm | closure

The event will be broadcast on MME's YouTube channel.