Ministerios de Minería de las Américas

Mines Ministries of the Americas

Ministérios de Minas das Américas
Ministères des Mines des Amériques

CAMMA AND SMALL

MINING
Kimberly Stirling and Roberto Sarudiansky

Green Technologies for the Formal &

Small Scale Mining & Metalurgical Sectors
MINTEK - Randburg, South Africa
August 29-30, 2002
 CAMMA

• From 1996 to the present, mining ministries of the Americas

have been meeting several times a year to discuss mining policy
and programs; identify common challenges and future
opportunities in the minerals and metals sector; and develop
common approaches for the identification and implementation of
sustainable development policies for minerals, metals and
mining activities.
 CAMMA - Mission

• Recognizing the important contribution of mining to the

development of our respective economies; acknowledging the
role that the sustainable development of minerals and metals
can have in alleviating poverty and improving the well being of
our communities while minimizing the environmental impacts of
mining development, We, as Mining Ministries in the Americas,
are committed to supporting and promoting the implementation
of policies which take into account environmental, social and
economical considerations in government decision making,
supported by scientific -based knowledge, and which will foster
the development, promotion, sound management, and safe use,
of minerals and metals in the Americas.
 CAMMA - Principles

• to promote the importance of mining and its contribution to

the sustainable development of communities and
economies, between government departments nationally,
and internationally among public and private sector
institutions and in other international minerals and metals
fora where sustainable development is, or may be,
discussed;
• and, to foster international cooperation and encourage the
open exchange of information, policies, databases, and
best practices, within a sustainable development context,
through hemispheric meetings, workshops, seminars,
teleconferences, and the CAMMA web site
(www.camma.org).
 CAMMA – Needs identified

• To promote a viable mining from technical, economical, social

and environmetal points of view.
• To increase qualifications for human resources in all the labour
levels.
• To provide funds, to promote horizontal integration and to use
international technical cooperation for the development of
research, science ang technology, related with mining.
• To explore and develope new products, specially related with
industrial minerals and construccion materials, that may offer
different comercial options to increase mining offers.
 Small Mining in the Americas

• Small Mining is particulary important in Latin America and the

Caribean and its contribution for the local and regional
economies is relevant. ILO considers that in this region about
1,8 millions of people were directly involved in small mining
activities in 1998.
• Small Mining has different characteristics in each country. In
some is mainly related with metals (Peru, Bolivia, Chile, etc); in
others like Argentina, with industrial minerals or ornamental
rocks or with all kinds of products like in Brazil
 CAMMA and Small Mining
• Small Mining issues have been considered in all the Mines
Ministries Conferences since 1996, and the agreements
included in all the Declarations
• All the Experts Meetings and Workshops in CAMMA, include
issues related with Small Mining. The most relevant workshops
were:
Mining and Environment
Occupational Health and Safety in Mining
Safe use of minerals and metals
Mining and communities
Market access
Mine closure
• An specific multistakeholder workshop about Small Mining was
held in Caracas, Venezuela, in July 2000
 Workshop on Small Mining
Principles
• Small Scale Mining can be a valid business option in the extent
to which it contributes to sustainable development.
• Coexistence and cooperation between Small Scale Mining and
larger mining operations are possible.
• The entrepreneurial capacity of those involved in Small Scale
Mining is to be commended.
• The character of Small Scale Mining brings forward resources
that increase the economic wealth of countries.
• Small Scale Mining allows for the geopolitical presence of
government in remote areas.
• Associativity allows for improved competitiveness, reduce costs
and facilitates market access.
• Successful experiences of cooperative associations in Small
Scale Mining are scarce
 Workshop on Small Mining
Principles (cont.)
• Small Scale Mining, compared to other developed segments of
the industry is more vulnerable to drops in international prices
for metals and minerals and there are no mechanisms for
helping it to deal with that situation.
• Mining legislation has not been successful in interpreting actual
conditions in Small Scale Mining.
• In some countries, it is very difficult to legalize mining operations
as a mechanism for the economic and social development of
communities associated with Small Scale Mining.
• Environmental issues are not fully taken into consideration in
Small Scale Mining operations.
• There are problems in the areas of occupational health and
safety.
 Workshop on Small Mining
Principles (cont.)
• There are technical shortcomings in the design of operations.
• Activity in exploration, preparation and development levels is
low.
• Value added is generally scarce.
• There is a low percentage of skilled workers in Small Scale
Mining activities.
• Investments and activities in research and development and
market analysis are minimal or non-existent.
• From the standpoint of productive units, it must be considered
that many operations are too small for high levels of
mechanization.
• The use of management tools is limited, and they are generally
rudimentary.
 Workshop on Small Mining
Principles (cont.)
• Information systems are deficient, limiting the ability to make
rational decisions.
• Access to traditional sources of financing for Small Scale Mining
activities is difficult.
• Multilateral lending agencies do not have specific programs for
Small Scale Mining.
• In general, there is a lack of continuity in support programs.
• It is indispensable to implement specific training programs for
Small Scale Mining.
• Small Scale Mining needs strong and competent government
institutions, with stability on leadership levels and continuity in
sector policies.
 Workshop on Small Mining
Recommendations

• Establish lines of credit from Multilateral lending agencies, under

their SME programs, for the development of Small Scale Mining,
including training and institution building in this field for
government institutions.
• Increase National budgets to support the development of mining
and increasing the technical-operational level of public mining
institutions.
• Ensure the continuity of support programs and sector policies in
order that the most is made of public investments in Small Scale
Mining.
 Workshop on Small Mining
Recommendations (cont.)

• Look for mechanisms to protect Small Scale Mining from

decreases in the international prices of metals and minerals.
• Introduce mechanisms to streamline, simplify and provide easy
access to the legalization of Small Scale Mining operations.
• Provide assistance to Small Scale Mining in complying with
environmental and occupational health and safety regulations.
• Give support to Small mining to improve its management tools,
update its technology, become competitive, reduce costs and
gain market access.
 CAMMA commitments
• Seek alternatives for small mining companies or promote their
technological and management transformation to increase
competitiveness …..
• Promote the competitiveness of small and medium-sized producers
through the promotion of investment in physical infrastructure and
services.
• Implement processes of education, training, ……. promoting the
multidisciplinary vision necessary to deal with the specific problems of
the small and medium-sized producers….
• The countries will seek to provide continuity for support programs
and/or sector policies to ensure good use of investments in small-scale
mining.
• The Coordinating Committee will assist in the creation of a working
group on small-scale mining , that will develop an inventory of
interested members’ funding needs.
Country Programm Goals

Argentina National System Increase production, competitivity and links between SMES and R&D institutions;
on Mining improve quality for market access and scientific and technological capabilities in
Technology - the mining sector; disseminate information in general and about existing
SINATEM promotional tools; assist SMES in their access to sources of financing and to
comply with environmental and health and safety regulations

Chile ENAMI (State Foster small and medium-scale mining, by providing the necessary services to
owned Company facilitate their access to the refined metals market, under competitive conditions.

Mexico Mexican Development of small scale mining activities as a way to create new jobs and
Geological therefore reduce the level of poverty. In particular, the government has focused its
Survey effort in the following topics: Development of geological information for
(COREMI), reconnaissance of the geological potential and mineral qualities; environmental
Mexican protection; reduction of poverty in small scale mining through technical assistance
Development and training, as well as funding of non – metallic mineral projects; Increase the
Bank and other number of projects with regional and national impact.
Institutions
Venezuela Viceministry of Legalize sustainable small mining operations, create new jobs, reduce poverty and
Mines protect the environment, in the Guayana Region
Organization and
Sustainable
Development for
Small Mining
 Contacts for information
Argentina Roberto Sarudiansky sarudi@inti.gov.ar
Belize Evadne Wade geounit@btl.net
Bolivia Eliodoro Sandi Bernal eliosandi@hotmail.com
Brasil Laura Barreto lbarreto@cetem.gov.br
Canada Kim Stirling kstirlin@nrcan.gc.ca
Chile Tomás Astorga tastorga@minmineria.cl
Colombia Julián Villarroel Toro julian.villarruel@correo.upme.gov.co
Costa Rica José Francisco Castro Muñoz asesoresminae@hotmail.com
Cuba Nancy García Lamadrid nancy@onrm.minbas.cu
Dominican Republic Romeo A. LLinás romeollinas@codetel.net.do
Ecuador César Aníbal Espinosa cespinosa@menergia.gov.ec
El Salvador Gina Navas de Hernández ginanavas@yahoo.com
Guatemala Philip Juarez direminer@mem.gob.gt
Guyana Robeson Benn, M.P. ggmc@sdnp.org.gy
Haiti Geffrard Jean mines-energie@publi-tronic.com
Honduras Fernando E. Ramírez defomin@compunet.hn
 Contacts for information
Jamaica Coy Roache mines@cwjamaica.com

México Abel Abarca Ayala aabarca@economia.gob.mx

Nicaragua Jorge Luis Préndiz Bonilla adgeo@mific.gob.ni

Panama Francia C. de Sierra dgrm@sinfo.net

Paraguay Luis Antonio Servin Villalba drm.mopc@conexion.com.py

Peru Angel Baez abaez@mem.com.pe

Surinam Glenn Gemerts germerts@sr.net

Trinidad Tobago Chanan Motilal cmotilal@energy.gov.tt

United States Bob Anderson Bob_M_Anderson@blm.gov

Uruguay Carlos Soares de Lima dinamige@adinet.com.uy

Venezuela Sonia Osorio de Fernández osorio_z@hotmail.com

 Ministerios de Minería de las
Américas
Mines Ministries of the Americas
Ministérios de Minas das Américas
Ministères des Mines des
Amériques
www.camma.org