A community based organisation in Western Kenya is seeking to change the livelihood of thousands of gold artisanal miners in the region by empowering them to stop using mercury in gold recovery
and adopt environmentally friendly processing methods. The Kakamega Environmental Conservation and Beautification Organization (KECBO), aims to ensure mercury free environment with sustainable gold recovery processes by building capacities and promoting safe mercury free extraction processes in western Kenya region. According to the founder Miss Audrey Mulama, a Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering graduate from Taita Taveta University, the organization aims to sensitize the miners on health and ecological risks associated with mercury and also empower them by training them on safe extraction methods. The CBO seeks to introduce use of Borax and microorganisms as an alternative to mercury; an initiative that has been received with gratitude by the local miners and the local administration.
The Community Based Organisation in partnership with The State Department Mining (Ministry of Petroleum and Mining) co-hosted a kick our mercury sensitization event in Ikolomani County, on 12th December 2018 during the Jamhuri Day Celebration for Kakamega South Sub-County in Burendwa Primary in Musoli Town. The occasion presented KECBO with an opportunity to reach out to many artisanal miners, artisanal groups and general public; sensitizing them on dangers of continued use of mercury to health, environment and future generations. The western Kenya region hosts a high number of gold artisanal miners (both legally recognized and illegal) who pursue gold containing ore to great depths, crush and grind it and use mercury to recover the gold from the concentrate. Women and school going children are not spared either as you will always find them recovering the precious metal from tailings and ore fines.
Dangers of Using Mercury
Mercury is a neurotoxin whose exposure can lead to toxic effects on the nervous system (e.g. psychotic reactions, hallucinations, suicidal tendencies and delirium), digestive and immune systems, on lungs, kidneys, skin and eyes to both human and wildlife. Mercury is extremely dangerous since it enter the body through inhalation, ingestion or skin absorption. It is even worse with pregnant and breastfeeding women since mercury is most harmful in the early stages of development.
Immediate alternative Borax Method
Borax Method offers an environmentally safe, cost efficient and acceptable substitute to mercury in gold recovery. In this method, the grounded ore is flushed into a launder (sluice) where a concentrate holding the heavy minerals is produced by trapping them on a carpet and washing them off in a bucket. The heavy minerals collected from the carpet are concentrated with a gold pan, with a little soap being added to the water in the pan to reduce surface tension; so gold flakes sink to the bottom instead of floating away into the tailings. The heavy mineral concentrate is then placed in a plastic with borax and a few drops of water. The concentrate is then blowtorched (mostly using charcoal and a blower) and the heavy minerals melt as gold flows to the bottom. The success of this method is due to the fact that borax reduces the melting point of gold (1,063ºC), bringing it down to a level accessible to ASGM with limited technology. The borax method is not only environmentally safer by eliminating use of mercury but also yields more gold and it’s less expensive.
With this knowledge KECBO seeks to empower the artisanal mining community through sensitization campaigns, trainings, technical assistance and facilitation aimed at total elimination on use of mercury in gold recovery. The CBO also aims at training and working with the artisanal miners to improve their mine designs, optimize their recovery and enhance their safety, health and environment aspects. This will be achieved through collaborative efforts of different stakeholders in the industry including the local artisanal mining groups, county and national governments, other local and international organizations and professional bodies like Mining Engineers Society of Kenya (MESK) and Mining Hub Africa.
Currently, KECBO is sourcing for partners with similar interest, to facilitate its operations in the area and make its operations successful. Powered by the desire to ensure safer mining and gold recovery environments, KECBO welcomes partners, well wishers and volunteers to join hands in fighting the mercury menace.
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Many thanks to Eng. Peter Muigai for this eye opening article. Mercury poisoning is a serious matter and am glad Mining hub Africa are in support of thiscampaign.#Makemercuryhistory
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Very welcome Audrey Alimila, Mining Hub Africa is happy to partner with KECBO in championing for this noble course. Together let us make mercury history
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Very pressive. Light the county by eliminating mercury for good. Make it history now. So many people have suffered the burden of cancer and lost their lifes thanks to KECBO for reaching out on the ground. Well donestablished and Keep up!
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Thank you Moses, mercury use is a menace that need to be tamed before it gets too late. We shall continue creating awareness and championing for safe extraction methods. Keep tuned for future posts.
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Great focus from a TTU alumna.
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Very impressive. We need more young leaders with a positive changing mindset attitude for Kenya. All things are possible
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Thanks KECBO chair (Audrey Alimila) and the respective sponsors for creating awareness against the use of mercury and encouraging an alternative use of Borax. Archiving of mercury use and fronting of Borax extraction method is an idea that ventilates well with WHO and must be support at all cost. Our parents, brothers and sisters suffer unknowingly as this is a time bomb whose full explosion is a manace to human life. Together we stand against mercury.
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This is good work Miss Audrey, cancer is a national disaster, eliminating mercury will eliminate cancer achieving SDG, better health and wellbeing to all. This is nice KECBO.
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I enjoy the article
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Keep tuned in for more.
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Occupational health and safety of the miners is key. Good idea right there.
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Thanks, it is very informative
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Thanks, it is very informative
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Great work Audrey, this is will really help the Artisanal gold miners. Kudos!
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