Gouvernance de la gestion et de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) de l’or : tendances mondiales

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines global trends in the governance, management, and reprocessing of tailings from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). It highlights the severe environmental and health risks associated with the indiscriminate use of mercury and cyanide, the lack of specific regulatory frameworks for tailings management at international, regional, and national levels, and the potential for recovering critical minerals from these waste products.

• Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) involves approximately 20 million people across 80 countries and contributes up to 20% of the global annual gold supply. The sector is driven by factors such as rising commodity prices, global consumption demand, unemployment, poverty, climate challenges, and conflicts.
• The management of ASGM tailings is often inadequate due to a lack of technical expertise and the perception that tailings have no value, leading operators to discharge them directly into the environment. This results in the creation of tailings ponds without basic containment or stabilization, which are often abandoned after mining activities cease.
• ASGM is the largest anthropogenic source of mercury emissions. While the 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury increased international focus on mercury use, the management of tailings—which often contain mercury and other toxins—has not received similar attention.
• Cyanidation is the most common method for recovering gold from tailings, but it is frequently applied to tailings already containing mercury. This practice is identified as one of the "worst practices" under the Minamata Convention.
• There is a significant gap in governance frameworks for ASGM tailings. Most regions lack specific frameworks, and while national frameworks may cover tailings under general mining or environmental codes, they rarely include provisions specific to ASGM waste, leading to confusion among operators and limited enforcement.
• ASGM tailings represent a potential source of critical minerals, which could incentivize better management if operators are trained and provided with the information necessary to extract these precious materials.
• Women are active participants in the ASGM tailings value chain, yet gender concerns are generally absent from tailings management approaches. The report recommends targeted programs including gender-sensitive training, leadership promotion, access to microfinance, and childcare services.

APA

Mutemeri, N., de Tomi, G., Naré, C., Bellois, G., Weldegiorgis, F., & Taquiri, J. (2024). Gouvernance de la gestion et de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) de l’or : tendances mondiales. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-asgm-tailings-management-reprocessing-governance-summary-fr.pdf

Chicago

Mutemeri, Nellie, Giorgio de Tomi, Clémence Naré, Grégoire Bellois, Fitsum Weldegiorgis, and Jaqueline Taquiri. Gouvernance de la gestion et de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) de l’or : tendances mondiales. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-asgm-tailings-management-reprocessing-governance-summary-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mutemeri |first1=Nellie |last2=de Tomi |first2=Giorgio |last3=Naré |first3=Clémence |last4=Bellois |first4=Grégoire |last5=Weldegiorgis |first5=Fitsum |last6=Taquiri |first6=Jaqueline |title=Gouvernance de la gestion et de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) de l’or : tendances mondiales |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-asgm-tailings-management-reprocessing-governance-summary-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mutemeri2024gouvernance, author = {Mutemeri, Nellie and de Tomi, Giorgio and Naré, Clémence and Bellois, Grégoire and Weldegiorgis, Fitsum and Taquiri, Jaqueline}, title = {{Gouvernance de la gestion et de l'exploitation minière artisanale et à petite échelle (EMAPE) de l’or : tendances mondiales}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-05/igf-asgm-tailings-management-reprocessing-governance-summary-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }