Special and official prizes were awarded to several mining artisans for their example in the field, at the end of the second edition of the Artisan Mining Day
The curtains fell on the second edition of Artisan Mining Day (JAM) in Gaoua by Artisan Mining Night on Saturday July 22, 2023 under the theme: “Artisanal mining: what mechanisms for formalizing operators in order to improve the socio-economic benefits of the sector? “.
Indeed, during the closing evening, several mining artisans received special and official prizes for their example in this sector. A total of 16 winners received official prizes and around twenty special prizes.
The first prize for the mining artisan was awarded to Azara Sankara from Houndé (capital of the province of Tuy).
She received her trophy from the Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries Simon-Pierre Boussim.
He congratulated the winners and urged them to continue with good practices.
In addition, the Minister said he was satisfied with the success of this edition of the JAM which resulted in recommendations formulated by the actors of the artisanal mining sector.
These recommendations are, among other things, to promote mechanisms allowing the cohabitation of industrial mines and artisanal miners, to promote semi-mechanized exploitation by popular shareholders, to reinforce the safety of activities on the sites in order to enable site managers to enforce regulatory provisions.
It also involves setting up pooled treatment centers and on-site training, putting into practice safe digging techniques to reduce negative impacts and increase the profitability of production.
The reinforcement in human resources of the structures in charge of local supervision, the accentuation of the formalization of actors in the artisanal field of quarries and the revision of taxes related to the purchase and marketing of gold.
In addition, there is the strengthening of the management capacities of State structures in charge of monitoring, control and supervision, the creation of permanent consultation frameworks between the mining Administration, mining artisans and mining companies, the streamlining of procedures, the transition to the environmental and social impact notice with regard to applications for semi-mechanized permits, the strengthening of the safety of activities on the sites with the collaboration of actors and the involvement of local authorities in the prevention of conflicts, the establishment of a capitalization plan and monitoring evaluation.
“Formalization a necessity”
The conclusions of this JAM will not remain a dead letter, faith of the first official in charge of Mines.
A permanent consultation framework has been set up with all the players to follow the recommendations and discuss non-consensual points.
Mr. Boussim was delighted with the relocation of this edition, which aims to bring the event closer to mining artisans.
“Artisans took part massively in the exchanges, which denotes the interest they have for the sector,” he said.
Furthermore, he encouraged miners to move towards formalization.
“Formalization is not an option but a necessity that comes under the patriotic commitments of mining artisans,” he said.
The Head of the Department in charge of Mines hopes that their patriotic commitment will result in a massive formalization.
The difficult security situation has led the government to temporarily suspend artisanal mining activities throughout the national territory.
When asked, when will the sites be reopened, the Minister pointed out that during the rainy season the texts provide for the closure of mining sites to avoid the risk of landslides.
If all goes well, the mining sites will be reopened in October, announced Simon-Pierre Boussim.
And to thank all the actors for their contributions to the success of this event.
For his part, the sponsor of this edition of the JAM, the Chief of Gaoua canton, Bifate II, thanked the government for having relocated the event to the City of Bafuji.
“Gaoua has hosted such an event for a long time,” he said.
The organization of the JAM is to be welcomed because it brings the mining administration closer to the artisanal gold miners.
He invited the mining actors to favor dialogue, in the event of conflict, before urging the mining operators to formalize themselves.
“You can’t exercise a profession without being in good standing vis-à-vis the administration”, he argued, while inviting them to organize themselves into a cooperative. At the administration, the Canton Chief urged him to always raise awareness among these operators.
Source: Burkina Information Agency