WGC Urges Increased Cooperation Between Gold Mining Firms and Artisanal Miners

The WGC urged mining firms to stop seeing artisanal and small-scale miners primarily as a risk to the security of their mines.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The World Gold Council, in its new study report titled ‘Lessons learned on managing the interface between the large-scale and artisanal and small-scale mining’, has called for increased cooperation between gold mining companies and artisanal miners. The report includes case studies from 25 mines, operated by 15 gold mining companies covering 18 countries.

According to the report, there has been a significant growth in artisanal and small-scale mining in many developing countries over the past twenty years. As per World Bank estimates, nearly 15-20 million people derive their livelihoods from artisanal and small-scale gold mining, especially people from African and South American countries. Also, around one-fifth of the newly-mined gold originates from artisanal and small-scale mining sources.

The WGC urged mining firms to stop seeing artisanal and small-scale miners primarily as a risk to the security of their mines. It called upon the governments to come up with clear guidance and regulatory frameworks to ensure that mineral resources are developed and mined in ways that support sustained social and economic development of the region.

The artisanal and small-scale miners have the potential to become a source of opportunity to boost local development outcomes, WGC noted.

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