In order to provide loans for artisanal miners to support development of responsible ASM in local areas, SAM project set aside a loan loss provision / guarantee scheme and allocated amount of 60,000,000 MNT in KHAAN BANK which will be served as full collateral for the loans. The fact is that most of artisanal miners do not have access to credits because they do not have collateral and if they have collateral they usually do not have other required documents to meet the bank loan requirements.

Who will receive a loan The artisanal miners who are organized into unregistered partnerships according to the regulation of the law and also who work hard to get access to mining lands will be eligible to apply for a loan.

What is this loan for This loan will be used only to buy necessary mining equipments.

How to get a loan Applicant request must be approved by their associated NGO and SAM Project.

SAM project will provide a reference letter for loan approval. 

In addition, SAM project provided financial and management training for artisanal miners on issuers such as related to borrowing from the bank, using a loan in 2011.

The artisanal miners who meet above mentioned requirements will be eligible for a loan.

Selected area

Mandal soum of Selenge aimag

Bayan-Ovoo, Galuut, Jargalant soums of Bayankhongor aimag

Airag  soum of Dornogovi aimag

Bornuur soum of Tuv aimag.

Representatives from 120 governments gathered at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya from 30th October to 4th November for negotiations towards a global treaty on mercury. The representative of Mongolian Government and SAM Project also attended this meeting and made presentations on SDC experiences in Mongolia and Latin America. The Swiss Delegation to the Negotiations organized a Side event during the treaty negotiations and shared SDC’s vast 20 year experiences on supporting ASGM in formalization and best environmental practices in Latin America and Mongolia.  The impact of SDC’s participation was that it raised the profile of ASM amongst government representatives and the need to formalize it as part of mercury reduction strategies. 

The third of five sessions of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC3) addressed the release of mercury into the environment from energy production and industrial processes and the use of mercury in small-scale gold mining, consumer goods and its presence in hazardous wastes, among other issues.

Mercury is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the top ten chemicals of public health concern. Human exposure to mercury can damage the nervous system and cause behavioral disorders. When released, mercury persists in the environment where it circulates between air, water, sediments and soil. Mercury has toxic effects on humans and wildlife and can enter the food chain through contaminated fish.

Much of the discussion focused on artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) and its effects on human health and the environment on the continent.

ASGM remains the largest demand sector for mercury globally; with an estimated 1300 tones set to be used in 2011.

ASGM is practiced in around 70 countries, almost half of which are in Africa. Virtually all the mercury used in small scale gold mining is released into the environment, posing long-term risks for mine workers and communities living downstream or downwind from mines. Abiola Olanipekun, INC Bureau member representing the African regional group, told the press briefing that alternative processes for gold extraction which do not use mercury now exist and that investment in such methods was essential for reducing environmental and health risks.

Ludovic Bernaudat of the UN Industrial Development Organization told journalists that the high price of gold (currently over US$1700 per ounce) is sparking a 'gold rush' in many countries, posing a timely challenge of how to reduce the use of mercury in the growing, but largely informal small-scale mining sector.

Under its Global Mercury Partnership, which brings together governments, civil society and the private sector, UNEP is assisting countries in developing national mercury inventories. As well as forming the basis of mercury reduction targets, developing comparable sets of data from different countries can serve to enhance international co-operation on mercury. Inventory projects led by the Global Mercury Partnership are currently being explored in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Mali, for example.

Among the key objectives for the INC negotiations are:

• Reducing the supply of mercury onto the market and enhancing capacity for environmentally-sound storage of mercury
• Reducing mercury demand for products, processes and international trade
• Reducing atmospheric emission of mercury
• Addressing mercury-containing waste and remediation of contaminated sites
• Increasing knowledge and capacity building on mercury
• Arrangements for technical and financial assistance to support implementation

There are important development and economic factors to be considered. Artisanal and small-scale gold-mining, for example, contributes an estimated US$10 billion to the global economy and employs around 10-15 million people.

However, low-mercury and mercury-free solutions are available for gold mining (such as gravity separation or concentration methods) which can reduce health and environment risks while avoiding impact on livelihoods.

News adapted from: http://allafrica.com/stories/201111040315.html

  Supporting ASGM: SDC Experiences in Latin America and Asia

  Supporting Artisanal Miners in Mongolia: SDC‘s Experiences and Lessons Learnt

Mongolia is a member of International Mining Rescue Body “IMRB”

The Mining rescue service of Mongolia became a member of IMRM during IMRM 5^th session on Oct 24-26, 2011 in China.

IMRM was founded in 2001 and it has had 21 member countries by affiliating countries such as Mongolia, the Russia, Vietnam, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe this year.

By becoming a member of IMRB, the Mining rescue service of Mongolia will be able to prevent mining accidents, and to clear the scene of accidents, exchange information on rescue operations, methods of principles of rescue training, the new technical solutions and new technologies of developed countries, to specialize and to attend international conferences, sessions and competitions.

International Mining rescue competitions will be held in Ukraine in 2012 and next session of IMRM will be organized in Canada, in 2013.

PS: SAM project of SDC fully sponsored the Mining rescue service of Mongolia to attend this international meeting and become a member.

The foundation for establishment of new regulatory framework has been set successfully,

further steps needed

Ulaanbaatar, Nov 8, 2011

The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mongolia (MMRE), the Mineral Resources Authority of Mongolia (MRAM), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) collaboratively organized a National Forum entitled “Review of implementation of Small-scale mining related legislations” in Ulaanbaatar hotel, on November 8, 2011.

An International Advisor to the SDC Sustainable Artisanal Mining (SAM) Project, concluded her 10 day mission to review recent measures undertaken to legalize Mongolia’s largely informal artisanal mining sector on Nov 4, 2011.

Citing her experience in over 10 countries in Africa, South America and Asia, Dr. Jennifer Hinton, complemented the Government of Mongolia on their achievements over the past two years: “Mongolia has demonstrated an impressive commitment to formalization of artisanal mining and, if such progressive measures continue to be implemented, the country is likely to quickly become one of the best practice examples in the World.”

Internationally, between 20 and 30 million artisanal miners are active in over 55 countries extracting a range of minerals. Men and women typically enter into artisanal mining in response to the need for viable employment and to earn a living to sustain themselves and their families. Dr Hinton states “Many miners would prefer to engage in other economic activities but artisanal mining is – in most cases – the only available or best option at the time. It seems that as economies develop and other alternatives become available or miners invest their savings in other activities, many leave the sector. This is a slow process that must be integrated with broader poverty reduction strategies.”

Бичил уурхайчдын ТББ-ын төлөөлөгчдөд бизнесийн банкны зээл авахтай холбоотой бичиг баримтын бүрдүүлэлт, хөтлөлт, үүрэг хариуцлага, бизнесийн төлөвлөлт, санхүүгийн хөтлөлтийн талаар сургалт зохион байгуулж, сургагч багш бэлдэх хүсэлтэй мэргэшсэн байгууллагуудыг ажлын саналаа ирүүлэхийг урьж байна. Энэхүү сонгон шалгаруулалтанд орох байгууллага нь бизнес, санхүүгийн менежментийн сургалт зохион байгуулж мэргэшсэн, орон нутгийн иргэд, бүлгүүдийг чадавхжуулах чиглэлээр ажиллаж байсан туршлагатай байвал зохино.

5 өдрийн хугацаанд зохион байгуулах уг сургалтанд нийт 35 хүнийг оролцуулж, сургагч багшаар бэлтгэж, сертификат олгох бөгөөд Улаанбаатар хотод болно.

Ажлын даалгавартай холбоотой дэлгэрэнгүй мэдээллийг авна уу.

Хамтран ажиллах хүсэлт, ажлын санал болон төлөвлөгөө, үнийн саналыг 2011 оны 10 сарын 19 –ний 17:00 цаг хүртэл доорх хаягаар авна.

Тогтвортой Бичил Уурхай Төсөл, Сүхбаатар дүүрэг, Олимпийн гудамж 12, Скай Плаза Бизнес төв 2-р давхар

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)  implements the Sustainable Artisanal Mining Project (SAM) with an aim to contribute to the development of responsible mining in Mongolia by working with all stakeholders to ensure that artisanal miners are recognized as responsible members of a key economic sub-sector contributing to sustainable rural development.

SDC is now recruiting a skilled Mongolian person as a Project Secretary and Communications Officer for its SAM Project starting from October 2011. For more information about SDC, please visit www.sdc.mn and further information about SAM is available on www.sam.mn

The incumbent will work mainly in Ulaanbaatar under direct guidance and supervision of the Project Director. This is a full time job for the duration of the SAM Project 2011-2014.

Main duties and responsibilities:

-       Provide administrative and secretarial support for project implementation;

-       Maintain project files, documentations reports, meeting minutes;

-       Organize and coordinate internal and external meetings, conferences, workshops, press conferences, media campaigns, open days and other events;

-       Manage office supplies, inventory, petty cash expenditure and cash records;

-       Responsible for media and communication;

-       Responsible for publication of relevant project materials and updating project website.

Job requirements:

-       At least 3 years experience in a similar position,

-       Good organizational and administrative skills,

-       Precise working habits and computer literacy,

-       Good communications and interpersonal skills,

-       Willingness to work in a team and provide support to project staff,

-       Strong experience in media, communication and publishing,

-       Good command of Mongolian and English languages.

Please send your CV, including your picture, two references and cover letter stating your motivation and expectations, all in one PDF file to sam@sam.mn, Subject: SAM Project Secretary, no later than 28 September, 2011.

“Бичил уурхайчдын хамтын ажиллагаа, нэгдсэн зохион байгуулалт” сэдэв бүхий бүсчилсэн хурлыг ХАМО иргэд болон бичил уурхайчид хамтран зохион байгуулахаар төлөвлөж байгаа бөгөөд зүүн, баруун болон төвийн бүсүүдэд зохион байгуулах уг хурлын зохион байгуулалтанд хамтран ажиллах хүсэлтэй мэргэшсэн байгууллагуудыг ажлын саналаа ирүүлэхийг урьж байна.

Дэлгэрэнгүй мэдээллийг дараах хаягаар болон цахим хуудаснаас авна уу.

Хамтран ажиллах хүсэлт, ажлын төлөвлөгөө, үнийн саналыг 2011 оны 9 сарын 26 –ний 17:00 цаг хүртэл доорх хаягаар авна.

ТБУТ, Сүхбаатар дүүрэг, Олимпийн гудамж 12, Скай Плаза Бизнес төв 2-р давхар, 328848-0,

“Бичил уурхайчдын хамтын ажиллагаа, нэгдсэн зохион байгуулалт” сэдэв бүхий ХАМО болон бичил уурхай эрхлэгчдийн бүсийн хурлыг  Баянхонгор, Сайншанд, Улаанбаатар хотод зохион байгуулах ажлын даалгавар