“Artisanal miners are now sticking together pens and papers”, said Mr. B. Khuldorj, SAM Project Manager after his attendance of the forum called “Mercury free Life” of the Artisanal and Small Scale Miners’ Association (ASMA) in Bornuur Soum of Tuv Aimag on February 02, 2008. This was the first outreach activity of the association, initiated by 32 artisanal miners from Bornuur. Main tools of the artisanal miners are shovels and hacks, but they needed to work with pens and papers to raise their voices to the governmental officials and law makers. 

The Association organized an extensive forum on February 02, 2008 to create clear understanding and awareness on artisanal and small scale mining (ASM) among governmental officials, policy and law makers and local communities and share comments and thoughts on critical ASM issues and employment generation at local level. The forum was attended by over 200 representatives including local Sum and Aimag governmental authorities, about 170 ASMs from Bornuur Sum and Bayangol Sum of Selenge Aimag, a Member of Parliament, staff members of SDC Mongolia, Mining Rescue Service, SAM project and mass media e.g. central TV, radio and newspaper journalists. 

During the forum, Parliament Member and Government Cabinet Secretariat Chairman Mr. N. Enkhbold presented the recent Governmental Order No 28 on the Regulation of ASM. “A number of important ASM issues including an access to social and health insurance for ASMs and reduction of school dropouts will be raised and dealt with for appropriate solutions” said N. Enkhbold. ASMA presented a project proposal on mercury free gold processing (10 tons per day). According to the project, gold from hard rock deposit will be processed at a plant, where no any mercury and other chemicals are used, providing at least 20-30 jobs for locals. SAM Project manager expressed his willingness to assist the NGO to optimize technical aspects in the project proposal. Artisanal miners will be the 50 percent contributers to their project implementation and they are looking for funding partners.