planetGOLD Mongolia project updates in the second quarter of 2024

Explore the planetGOLD Mongolia's latest newsletter

We are working toward the formalization and professionalization of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector in Mongolia, including the elimination of mercury use in gold processing. Collaborating with stakeholders along the gold supply chain – miners, gold traders, local and national governments, as well as civil society – allows us to sustainably improve artisanal mining operations as an important economic opportunity for remote communities, strengthen regulations governing the sector, and enhance the formalization and professionalization of ASGM in Mongolia. For regular project updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn.

In the 2024 second-quarter edition, we are excited to share:

Explore the mercury-free processing systems in 360-degree
planetGOLD Assesses Social Services for Mongolia's ASGM Communities
Third Annual "Mongolia Jewelry and Metal Forum and Expo"
Capacity building and awareness-raising continue
Global Forum on ASGM
planetGOLD Mongolia hands over training modules
ASM policy document handed over to the local government

Let’s dive in!

EXPLORE THE MERCURY-FREE PROCESSING SYSTEMS IN 360-DEGREE

Take an exclusive virtual tour with planetGOLD Mongolia and explore their innovative mercury-free processing facilities in Tunkhel and Mandal Soum. This interactive 360° tour provides a unique opportunity to see firsthand the advanced techniques and practices being used to ensure environmentally friendly and safe gold mining.

planetGOLD ASSESSES SOCIAL SERVICES FOR MONGOLIA'S ASGM COMMUNITIES

planetGOLD Mongolia project conducted a qualitative assessment – aiming to take a snapshot of the current situation of the access to and supply of key social services of artisanal miners, including social insurance, social welfare, health insurance, healthcare, and early childhood education services – and launched the report on April 26, 2024, in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The study “Assessing the Gap: Artisanal Gold Miners and Social Services” revealed relatively low coverage of social and health insurance among artisanal miners compared to the national average and other rural community members. In particular, it was found that attention should be paid to the generation of the artisanal miners, mainly male, who have a minimum income security of social welfare and whose health and working capacity deteriorated at a younger age due to high occupational risks. Also, aside from the behavioral and knowledge barriers observed during the study, systemic and legal obstacles were found in miners’ access to social insurance. The study also revealed room for improving healthcare, health insurance, and early childhood education with consideration of the differentiated needs of the miners.

A lack of official and accurate data on artisanal miners was revealed during the study, making it harder to meet their differentiated needs for selected social services. Regardless, inactive formalization efforts and inconsistent policy, however, triggered a downturn in recent years, leaving these people unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. Therefore, further consistent, and stable policy and local support for the ASM sector have been recommended to enhance their formalization and improve miners’ employment and social security. For effective collaboration and coordination between government authorities, ASM organizations, and other stakeholders to succeed it is equally important to consider miners’ experiences and different needs related to social protection policies and programs and their implementation.

THIRD ANNUAL "MONGOLIA JEWELRY AND METAL FORUM AND EXPO"

The "Mongolia Jewelry and Metal Forum and Expo" has been organized in collaboration with the Financial Regulatory Commission of Mongolia, the Precious Metal Traders National Association (PMA), and the planetGOLD Mongolia project between April 11-14, 2024 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with the goal of promoting the precious metals sector in Mongolia for the third year.
The forum was organized through main session and parallel sessions, with the main stakeholders presenting on the sector's current situation and challenges, followed by side sessions focusing on mining and processing, jewelry production and related services, as well as trade and development opportunities.

Mr. Altanbagana Bayarsaikhan, planetGOLD Project Manager, made a presentation on "Project Progress and Outcome" at the main session, talking about the project results and emphasizing on the importance of implementing due diligence standard in the country. At the side sessions, Mr. Byambasuren Odgerel, planetGOLD Technologist Engineer, presented "Mercury-free Gold Processing Plant" in side sessions highlighted the lessons learnt from the newly built mercury-free processing systems, the challenges associated with the laws and regulations governing the operation of gold processing plants in Mongolia. Ms. Delgermaa Ganbaatar, planetGOLD Investment Specialist talked about concerns of non-traceability while noting the ASGM sector's upstream-to-downstream gold supply chain regulatory gaps in her presentation on "Gold traceability and current practices".

Following the Forum, the Expo was attended by jewelry makers, traders, official brand distributors, as well as government and non-governmental organizations. Around 11,000 people visited the expo over three days. The planetGOLD Mongolia project displayed all policy reports and knowledge products and introduced the project's progress and outcomes. The visitors went on virtual tour of the project mercury-free processing systems.

CAPACITY BUILDING AND AWARENESS-RAISING CONTINUE

The planetGOLD Mongolia project organized trainings and experience-sharing meetings for a variety of participants, including artisanal miners and government officials from all three target provinces – Gobi-Altai, Khovd, and Selenge, both individually and jointly. The wide range of topics were covered from Workplace Safety and Fire Prevention, Technological Advancements, and Conflict Management. Trainings and meetings mostly have both classroom and practical components to maximize their effectiveness.

Additionally, the project organized experience-sharing visit of the mercury-free processing facility (MFPS) established provinces on May 28, 2024 in Mandal soum, Selenge province, Mongolia. Officials from the three provincial governments, environment and tourism departments, labor and social welfare offices, and ecological police units took part in the experience-sharing visit. The participants toured the MFPS, were introduced with its technological process, and learned about its maintenance and considerations.

With the support from the project, our partner government organizations carried out several capacity-building activities on ASM Legal Framework, Environmental Laws and Regulations, Soil pollution and Mercury pollution, Precious Metals Traders, and Mercury hazards and their Effect on Human Health. As part of these activities, a total of 500 recommendations, 200 brochures, and 450 infographic handouts were disseminated to government officials, artisanal miners, and the public to raise their awareness on mercury danger to the human health and the environment.

GLOBAL FORUM ON ASGM

The Global Forum on Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining, a flagship event organized by the global component of the planetGOLD programme, took place in the Philippines from June 3 to 5, 2024. Over 200 participants attended the Forum, including government officials, international agencies, policy and technical specialists, miner representatives, and private-sector members. The planetGOLD Mongolia project attended the forum along with a delegate from Mongolia's National Federation of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining.

The planetGOLD Mongolia and the AGC team, the project's executing agency, delivered presentations and attended sessions on "Financing Models in planetGOLD Countries", "Miners Fireside Chat", "Technology Fair", and "ASGM Capitalization – Financiers' Perspectives", highlighting project outcomes and lessons learned.

Throughout these sessions, the project team highlighted project outcomes and lessons learned. Specifically, during the access to finance session, the project presented its innovative solution to improve access to finance for Mongolian miners through the establishment of a Savings and Credit Cooperative to support responsible mining, while at the technology fair, mercury-free technological solutions introduced in Mongolia were highlighted.

planetGOLD MONGOLIA HANDS OVER TRAINING MODULES

As part of its capacity-building activities, the planetGOLD Mongolia developed and conducted trainings on ASM formalization, human rights and gender, environmental rehabilitation, gold supply chain, business management, responsible mining, and occupational health and safety. Contents of the trainings were developed based on the specific needs and knowledge gaps of miners, considering both local laws and international standards.

As the project concludes in 2024, during the "Mongolian Jewelry and Metal Forum," the project handed over various knowledge products, including training modules and products on due diligence, responsible gold trade, business management, and other relevant policy briefs and reports to the PMA. These knowledge products were provided in both digital and paper formats.

The PMA is a leading NGO in the Mongolian ASGM supply chain and agreed to continue these trainings and provide the needed knowledge and information to artisanal miners, gold traders, and other stakeholders in the supply chain.

ASM POLICY DOCUMENT HANDED OVER TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

The Mandal soum of Selenge province is the main project target area where hard rock gold mining activities are active. To improve the implementation of the ASM Regulation at the local level, the Mandal soum government requested support from the planetGOLD to develop the soum ASM policy document. The project collaborated with the local government officials and conducted a series of stakeholder consultation meetings to draft the document. The document was finalized and handed over to the Mandal Soum Governor in May 2024.

The policy document aims to address several critical objectives: eliminating illegal mining activities, fostering collaboration between stakeholders, promoting environmentally and socially responsible practices, reducing poverty, and minimizing the use of toxic chemicals. It covers a wide range of topics including the formalization and registration of artisanal miners, ensuring gold traceability throughout the supply chain, providing training and vocational education opportunities, and enabling social and health insurance as well as taxation opportunities for artisanal miners. Additionally, the document outlines measures for ASM environmental rehabilitation and measures to reduce the use of toxic chemicals. It also emphasizes the expected outcomes over the policy period and plans for monitoring, evaluation, and financing.