Access to market
Securing access to market for artisanal and small-scale miners is pivotal in promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices. Projekt-Consult’s approach to enhancing market access integrates crucial elements such as environmental stewardship, occupational health and safety (OHS) standards, and the implementation of rigorous due diligence processes. Our projects focus on reducing the use of hazardous substances like mercury in mining operations, aligning with global initiatives for mercury reduction and environmental protection.
By collaborating with local and international stakeholders, we facilitate the inclusion of ASM products, particularly responsible gold, in global supply chains. This effort is supported by comprehensive strategies that improve miners' access to finance, enabling them to invest in safer and more efficient technologies and practices. These interventions not only aim to elevate the quality and safety of ASM operations but also ensure that they meet the high standards demanded by international markets.
Projekt-Consult helps to:
- Advocate for and support the adoption of responsible sourcing initiatives that enhance sustainability in the ASM sector.
- Implement Safety and Environmental Standards to ensure safe and responsible mining practices.
- Facilitate Access to Finance by enabling miners to implement sustainable technologies and practices.
- Enhance Due Diligence and Compliance with international norms to secure responsible supply chains.
Through these efforts, Projekt-Consult is dedicated to improving the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the ASM sector, making it a more attractive and compliant option for global markets. This includes:
From mine to market: We assist ASM operations in achieving certification under international responsible gold programs, enhancing their marketability and ensuring premium market prices for their products. Most prominently, Projekt-Consult developed the world renowned Swiss Better Gold Initiative as an innovative public private partnership and was responsible for its implementation for more than a decade.
Mineral processing: Projekt-Consult analyzes and optimizes each processing step to maximize the efficiency and, thus, the quantity of the ore concentrate obtained, while mitigating the negative effects for the miners' health and the environment. Miners are trained on the job using advanced and efficient processing technologies, such as amalgamation retorts. These technologies require no or only a small fraction of chemical reagents, consume less water, and are more energy efficient. Pragmatic tailings and mining waste management strategies are developed considering the miners' technical capacity and environmental conditions.
Access to finance: By connecting ASM operations with financial institutions and impact investors, we enable miners to access the necessary capital to improve their mining practices and comply with international due diligence standards as done so through trainings in the Tierra Dorada project in Colombia for ASM gold miners. In Bolivia we are working for Unido / planetGold on increasing financing options for miners that apply environmentally friendly techniques.
Due diligence and compliance: We provide expertise and support in developing and implementing due diligence frameworks that comply with international regulations, ensuring responsible sourcing from ASM operations and integrate these frameworks in our projects. Notably, we have supported the German Geological Survey (BGR) in developing the Certified Trading Chains (CTC) standard for 3TG (tantalum, tin, tungsten, gold) minerals in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This certification has since become a national standard for conflict minerals in the DRC.
ASM standards and audits of ASM sites: Projekt-Consult has been participating in a multitude of international policy fora for developing standards and guidelines for responsible mining and sourcing with a particular focus on the ASM sector. Our staff has advised the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on child labor in mining and participated in the working group of the OECD for drafting the Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict Affected and High-Risk Areas. Projekt-Consult’s experts have also conducted numerous independent third-party audits, particularly in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in different continents.
Contact
Projekt-Consult GmbH
Phone: +49 40 603 06 740
E-mail: info@projekt-consult.de
Photo header: © Swiss Better Gold Initiative
