Germany is set to invest billions in pioneering hydrogen projects, aiming to boost the production, storage and transport of a potentially transformative source of green energy.
Robert Habeck, the German Economy Minister
Robert Habeck, the Economy Minister, stated in a ministry statement: “With the funding of hydrogen projects, we are taking a step towards a climate-neutral and sustainable economy in Europe and beyond.”
The German federal government as well as several state governments has earmarked a total of €4.6 billion ($4.9 billion) for 23 projects.
Habeck said a powerful hydrogen infrastructure could play a key role in the decarbonization of German industries and the energy sector.
He added that the “Hydrogen pipelines will be the lifelines of industrial centre and this creates the precondition for climate-neutral growth”.
The projects are centered on the large-scale production of green hydrogen, but also innovative and secure storage solutions as well as transport infrastructure spanning up to 2,000 kilometres.
Part of the funding comes from the European Union; while businesses involved in the projects are due to invest another €3.3 billion ($3.6 billion).
According to the ministry, the total investment will thus represent €7.9 billion ($8.1 billion) by 2030.
An average of almost 1,500 people per year were treated in Germany’s hospitals due to heat and intense sun exposure between 2002 and 2022.
Tourists in Europe struggle in the heat. Photo credit: AFP/Getty
“Extreme heat is now a problem for the health of the population here in Germany,” the Federal Statistical Office in Wiesbaden announced on Monday, July 15, 2024.
The number of deaths directly caused by heat averaged 20 cases per year in the study period.
However, very high temperatures also lead to an overall increase in mortality, as they have an indirect effect in many cases.
The combination of extreme summer temperatures and pre-existing illnesses significantly increases the risk of death in Germany.
However, the number of heat-related hospital treatments was often higher in years with many hot days, according to the government statisticians.
Germany’s Weather Service defines heat wave days as those where temperatures rise to 30 degrees Celsius or more.
In the 20-year study period there was an average of 17.6 of heat wave days.
The statisticians said that in 2015, for example, the number of cases caused by heat and sunlight treated in hospital was 59 per cent for the past decade.
According to the data, 60 deaths in the same year were due to heat or sunlight – three times as many as the average for the study period.
The statisticians counted that the most hospital treatments were around 2,600 cases – due to heat or sunlight in 2003.
The Federal Office’s survey refers to figures from hospital statistics and statistics on causes of death, as well as data provided by the German Weather Service.
Residence and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations in Nigeria, Mr Mohammed Fall, has called on states to align their budgeting processes with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants at the UN stakeholders’ engagement on Policy Dialogue on Social Budgeting for Child-sensitive Sectors in Awka, Anambra State
Fall made the call at the opening ceremony of a three-day stakeholders’ engagement on Policy Dialogue on Social Budgeting for Child-sensitive Sectors organised by the Southeast Zonal Office of the UNICEF in Awka, Anambra State, on Monday, July 15, 2024.
He said the call had become necessary as it would help to achieve the SDGs which have just five years to wind down.
The coordinator said states should address the needs of the vulnerable such as wider immunisation, higher school enrolment and sanitation while assuring that the UN would provide sustainability support in the area of expertise, technical and advocacy.
“Come out with a plan that can set a vision that will ensure budgeting towards education and health.
“Foster partnership with the private sector, communities, traditional leaders, faith-based leadership and women groups,” he said.
On his part, Dr Olusoji Akinleye, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF Enugu Office, said the workshop was important and timely considering that governments had commenced budgeting formulation process for 2025.
Akinleye said UNICEF was particular about supporting governments in identification and inclusion of budget priority areas which would enhance human capacity development, attainment of SDGs, and promote rights and wellbeing of children.
“This dialogue, therefore, hopes to engage states to collaboratively chart a path to ensure adequate and sustainable financing, especially for the social sectors.
“States would be provided the opportunity to exchange ideas, challenges and best practices related to budget formulation and implementation, highlighting key bottlenecks faced by the sector MDAs as well as possible policy remedies to address these barriers
“We are positive that this will lead to improved programming efficiency, value for money, capacity building and improved budget outcomes for the states, especially for its children,” Akinleye stated.
In his presentation, Mr Victor Chima, Social Policy Officer, UNICEF Field Office, Enugu, decried the lack of data for proper budgeting in Southeast.
Chima spoke on “Social Sector Budgeting Fiscal Space in Southeast: Evidence, Challenge and Prospects”.
He pointed out that the number of out of school children was on the increase in the Southeast because of lack of social protection and called for deliberate effort to reverse the trend.
The Stakeholders’ Dialogue had in attendance Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Appropriation in the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the right states under the Enugu Field Office.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to revisit and implement the report of the Presidential Investigation Panel on oil theft, vandalism and sabotage.
NEITI officials at the NEITI Board Retreat/Meeting on Monday in Lagos
NEITI Executive Secretary, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, made the call at the ongoing five-day NEITI Board Retreat/Meeting on Monday, July 15, 2024, in Lagos.
The executive secretary said that the report was presented to the office of the Chief National Security Adviser.
Orji said that the report contained detailed recommendations on how oil theft and vandalism could be addressed.
According to him, NEITI is so passionate on the report on how foreigners were conniving with our own nationals to steal crude oil.
“Our crude oil production ought to have been two million barrels per day but we are doing less, and it is affecting our revenue.
“No foreigners can come into the country and steal crude oil with our Mineral Resources without the connivance of our nationals,” he said.
He emphasised that the retreat was an opportunity to reflect on the role of NEITI in shaping a new direction for the extractive industry.
“This requires robust discussions that will bring about ideas to deal with the current challenges of oil theft, illegal mining, stealing of Nigeria’s precious minerals and pipeline vandalism.
“Also, damage to the environment and other governance challenges that have contributed to loss of revenues and investment opportunities in the sector should be addressed.
He stressed that the retreat was expected to chart a course for the Board by aligning its mission of fostering transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries.
He said, in 2003, Nigeria took a bold step by voluntarily signing up to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
According to him, the decision was centered in the belief that transparency in the extractive sector would pave the way for sustainable development and poverty reduction in resource – rich countries.
Orji said that the global transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources poses significant risks to countries that depend heavily on hydrocarbon-based natural resource-revenues for survival.
“Our country, Nigeria is heavily dependent on oil revenues for survival.
“It is within the ambit of this Board to support our government and citizens with timely policy decisions and strategies to deal with this unavoidable unfolding development in the extractive sector.
“At current dependency levels, Nigeria already faces significant threats to its economy from the prospect of a permanent decline in global demand for crude oil.
“Given the fiscal problems Nigeria has experienced from short-term disruptions in crude oil and gas output, the much longer-term and permanent decline in demand would have far-reaching impact on the country’s economy,” he said.
Orji said: “In 2021, crude oil and gas accounted for 46 per cent of energy use and 78 per cent of electricity generation in Nigeria.
“The transition would therefore require significant financial investment for the country to generate renewable energy to replace energy previously generated from carbon fuels.
“This financing (and technological) burden is in addition to the equally significant amount of money that is required to close Nigeria’s current energy supply gap.
“Figures contained in our 2009 to 2020 audits have put Nigeria’s losses to crude oil theft over a 12-year period at 619.7 million barrels valued at $46.16 billion or N16.25 trillion.
“Similarly, between 2009 and 2018, the country also lost 4.2 billion litres of petroleum products from refineries valued at $1.84 billion.
“These losses and their attendant negative effects on the economy made the President then to constitute a Special Panel on Oil Theft /Losses to study the situation against current realities and make recommendations on how to fight the menace,” Orji explained.
In his remarks, Sen. George Akume, the Board Chairman, NEITI, commended the newly inaugurated board member.
Akume said the Board was carefully selected based on their individual merits, their diverse competencies, skills, knowledge, integrity and track records of service in their previous assignments.
Akume said: “Your appointment and inauguration, which is taking place here today, is another positive statement of President Bola Tinubu’s open support and commitment to transparency.
“Also, accountability in the management of our economic resources, and especially given the mandate and objectives of the Nigeria EITI.
“The present administration is passionate and fully committed to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the work of NEITI and the visible impacts which EITI process has achieved so far in Nigeria.
“As you are aware, the extractive industry is very strategic to Nigeria’s economy and for this administration’s economic agenda, the sector holds the future,” he said.
The Board chairman said that transparency and accountability in the management of the national resources is equally central to anti-corruption agenda of the present government.
He said that Nigeria was therefore irrevocably committed to the implementation of EITI in the oil, gas, and mining industries.
“Our faith in the EITI process is not just because it is key to these two key government agendas, but also because, over the years.
“NEITI has demonstrated a high degree of competence, integrity and commitment to the values that the country requires to achieve economic growth and development in the sector through availability of reliable information,” he added
In his goodwill message, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that for Nigeria to fully harness its abundant natural resource endowment there was the urgent need to re-examine the existing laws that vest control over oil and other mineral resources.
Sanwo-Olu was represented by Mr Abiodun Ogunleye, the state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.
Sanwo-Olu said there was the need for review of these laws which has become very urgent if the federal government’s policy on “Ease of Doing Business” is to succeed especially at the sub-national levels.
The governor said that the review was also important to promote investments in the extractive industry and diversify the nation’s economy.
“To this end, the federal government and its agencies needs to engage more with the private sector land sub national governments in the development of the nation’s natural resource.
“The areas of engagement include, solid minerals development, host community programs, environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, domestic resource mobilisation.
“And poverty reduction initiatives which are at the center of realizing the impacts of the global extractive industries transparency initiative in resource-rich countries like Nigeria.
“I assure you that Lagos state government is open to partnership with NEITI in this direction,” he said.
Also, Dr Erisa Danladi, Civil Society Representative, National Stakeholders Working Group (NSWG), advocate for more transparent and fair distribution of revenues generated from the extractive industries among federal, state, and local governments.
Danladi said this includes adhering to the principles of the 13 per cent derivation fund for oil-producing states.
She said there was the need to utilise revenues from extractives to invest in public infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other critical sectors that improve the quality of life for all Nigerians.
She said there should be meaningful consultation with local communities impacted by extractive activities.
“Their concerns and inputs should be considered in decision-making processes.
“We expect the new board to foster an inclusive environment where civil society, local communities, industry players, and government bodies can engage in a regular and constructive manner.
“We expect the new board to enhance efforts in making data related to the extractive industries easily accessible and understandable to the public.
“Open data policies should be strengthened to ensure that all stakeholders, including local/host communities, can access and use this information effectively, including contracts, revenue streams, production volumes, and environmental impact assessments.
“This transparency is crucial for holding both companies and government accountable.”
The International Association of Emergency Management Africa (IAEM Africa) says it will focus on local knowledge and expertise in developing the framework for disaster management in the continent.
President of IAEM Africa, Dr Susan Agada
The President of IAEM Africa, Dr Susan Agada, stated this at the IAEM Africa Inaugural Symposium in Abuja on Monday, July 15, 2024.
According to Agada, building an Africa-centred resilient and adaptive disaster management framework is imperative because most frameworks without sufficient involvement of Africans do not work in the continent.
Agada said that the framework would not only strengthen responses to emergency crises, but also anticipate and mitigate them, thereby safeguarding communities and fostering sustainable development.
“The IAEM Africa platform will leverage African expertise to ensure that the continent has a voice in the discourse on environmental issues around the world.
“Currently, Africa is the least contributor to the factors that create climate change, but our voice is the smallest in the discourse.
“Therefore, the goal of the IAEM Africa is to draw the needed attention to our issues using our own voice.
“The goal is to bring together our wealth of professionals in Africa and other resources and communicate our issues to the world,’’ she said.
Agada, however, said that, while prioritising African-led solutions, the association would seek resources and partnerships beyond African borders.
“Our vision is to ensure that Africa sets the terms of engagements with international partners with dignity and sovereignty.
“By controlling our narrative and strategy, we can ensure that external support complements our initiatives rather than dictates them,” she said.
She stressed the need to speak with one voice in addressing the myriads of challenges confronting Africa, particularly threats posed by climate change.
“This unified voice will enable us to address disaster-related challenges more effectively, leveraging our collective strengths and expertise.
“Together, we can transform the landscape of disaster management in Africa, ensuring that our continent is better prepared, more resilient, and able to thrive in the face of adversity,” she said.
Also speaking, Hajiya Zubaida Umar, Director-General (D-G), National Emergency Management Agency, stressed the need for robust and coordinated emergency management strategies for Africa.
Umar, who was represented by Dr Onimode Bandele, Director Planning, Research and Forecasting, said that the IAEM Africa provided the needed platform for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing among emergency management professionals.
Similarly, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, acting D-G, Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department, said that IAEM Africa would significantly impact disaster management and response in Africa.
She urged the association to strengthen networking among disaster management professionals in Africa and promote adaptation of technology-driven innovations in disaster management.
“In area of disaster management, we cannot run away from innovations, knowledge sharing, capacity building and technology driven rescue operations in line with global practices,” she said.
Also, Dr Abbas Idriss, the pioneer D-G, FCT Emergency Management Agency, said that disaster response was a multi-facet, multi-disciplinary and multi-agency activity that requires networking to share information, expertise and resources.
Idriss spoke on a paper, “Communication, Coordination, Cooperation, and Collaboration: A Multi-Agency Approach for Effective/Efficient Disaster Management across Africa.”
According to him, understanding communication, coordination, cooperation and collaboration, will enable emergency managers to work more effectively and efficiently in responding to disasters and minimizing the impact on communities across Africa.
The executive members inaugurate were Dr Susan Agada as President, Miss Amina Saba as Secretary, Dr Emenike Umesi as Head of Planning and Research; and Prof. Prof. Jaiye Dukiya as Director Programmes.
Others are Dr Abbas Idriss as Membership Coordinator, Prof. Andrew Obafemi as Partnership Liaison, Prof. Usman Kibon as Head of Training and Development Officer, and Mr Femi Giwa as Deputy Training and Development Officer.
Also inaugurated are Rhoda Sadus as Communication Specialist, Amb. Victor Ogah as Event Coordinator, and Mr Akiode Saheed as Deputy Event Coordinator.
Agribusiness stakeholders have commended the Federal Government’s proposal to create the Ministry of Livestock Development in the country.
Cattle ranching
The stakeholders gave the commendation in separate reactions on Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu had on July 9 inaugurated the Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms to address obstacles to agricultural productivity.
The proposed ministry is expected to further explore potential in the livestock sector as well as end the perennial clashes between pastoralists and farmers in Nigeria.
The president appointed the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, as Co-Chairman of the committee.
Tinubu said the livestock reform would open up new opportunities to benefit farmers, herders, processors and distributors in the livestock-farming value chain.
Tinubu had emphasised that the implementation of the reforms would require the collective efforts of members of the committee, drawn from the public and private sectors, state governors and all Nigerians.
The stakeholders, in their reactions to the new plan, said that it was a welcome development to have a ministry that would address herder-farmer clashes in the country.
Prof. Simon Irtwange, National President, Yam Farmers and Marketers Association of Nigeria, applauded the move by the Federal Government, saying it was good that attention was given to the livestock sector.
He said the livestock sector had a huge economic potential if properly explored and harnessed.
According to Irtwange, the sector has been neglected for a long time.
“It is a good thing that attention has been given to that aspect (livestock sector) of the agricultural sector; to me it is a welcome development,” he said.
Mr Ayuba Rano, National Organising Secretary, Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, said the proposed ministry was a good development.
He said that the plan to have a livestock ministry would bolster the economy as well as ease of doing business in the livestock sub sector.
Mr Femi Oke, South West Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Lagos, said the suggestion to create livestock ministry was a welcome development.
“This is a welcome development; we farmers are happy; it is a joy to us farmers,” he said.
Mr Joseph Abu, the Organising Secretary, Paw Paw Growers and Processors Association of Nigeria, said the plan to create a livestock ministry was a good idea as it would be beneficial to farmers and other stakeholders in the livestock value chain.
A water and environmental management expert, Dr Stephen Adegoke, has called on government agencies to adopt measures to control indiscriminate borehole drilling.
Borehole drilling
He also suggested stringent regulation of drilling companies.
Adegoke said in Abuja on Sunday, July 14, 2024, that increased investment in pipe-borne water was also important to provide reliable potable water sources and reduce the nation’s dependence on boreholes.
He urged Nigerians to seek professional advice and services when constructing boreholes to avoid the negative impacts of using unqualified personnel.
Adegoke noted the huge burden placed on women and children, who often walk for hours to fetch drinking water, a situation that had compelled many to drill boreholes without considering its effect on the ecosystem.
“The rising population has made borehole drilling necessary as every household requires consistent water supply.
“But it is important to note the risks associated with random drilling of boreholes; very often, they are drilled near dump sites, septic tanks, animal pens, stormwater canals and sewage lines.
“Recent water samples from boreholes over 60 meters deep in areas such as Idu in Abuja, Dobi and Mararaba in Nasarawa State, and Suleja, Niger State, have shown the presence of faecal coliform bacteria.
“This indicates significant contamination of our groundwater by human and animal waste,” he stated.
Citing a recent UNICEF report, Adegoke noted that water samples from boreholes in the Owerri zone of Imo revealed an average pH of 6.0 to 6.5, indicating that the water is slightly acidic and unsafe for consumption.
He urged all tiers of government to take immediate action to address the issues and halt the trend.
Mr Francis Uzoma, President of the Borehole Drillers’ Association of Nigeria (BODAN), said the association is sensitising members on obtaining drilling licenses and adhering to the National Drilling Code of Practice.
He noted that indiscriminate borehole drilling results from the government’s inability to provide adequate potable water.
Uzoma called on state governments to prioritise funding for water infrastructure to minimise unregulated borehole proliferation.
He emphasised that indiscriminate drilling affects water availability and quality, with severe consequences for the ecosystem, public health and community well-being.
The president, however, stressed the need for comprehensive water policies and adequate supply to reduce reliance on boreholes.
The Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC) said recently that it is collaborating with professional bodies to regulate borehole drilling and collect data on industry activities.
Among outfits it is collaborating with are the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, the Association of Water Well Drilling Rig Owners and Practitioners, and BODAN.
A director at the commission has, however, opined that the non-passage of the National Water Resources Bill, currently before the National Assembly, was limiting its regulatory capabilities.
The official, who craved anonymity, said that the situation was also hurting efforts to monitor and address issues related to indiscriminate borehole drilling.
He said that research was ongoing to investigate potential links between earth tremors and excessive groundwater extraction.
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and members of the House of Representatives Committee on National Population held a retreat themed “Identity Management and Legislative Oversight” to seek areas of collaboration towards the achievement of the Commission’s mandate and foster a harmonious working relationship.
Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Population and management staff of the National Identity Management Commission at the retreat
Speaking at the retreat, the NIMC Director General, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, said that the retreat, amongst many, aims at re-acquainting the committee members with the activities of the Commission as well as its mandate and mission.
She emphasised that the retreat would provide the needed environment for the lawmakers and the management of the commission to identify possible areas of collaboration and build a harmonious working relationship towards the success of digital identity in Nigeria.
Commenting on the retreat focus, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Population, Okunjimi Odimayo, commended the NIMC DG and her team for their effort at raising the Commission’s profile within a short period since her resumption of office.
He pledged that the Committee would give maximum support to NIMC to ensure it achieves its mandate.
The retreat had in attendance members of the House of Representatives Committee on Population and management staff of the NIMC.
About 340 kilometres south of Manila, Jun (not his real name) took the time to entertain visitors at his small-scale gold mining facility. It was a busy Saturday afternoon, as it usually is at the facility which operates 24/7, but Jun didn’t mind taking some time off to show the visitors around.
Mercury use in artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM
“It’s okay since we don’t always have visitors here,” he said reassuringly.
Amidst the loud and persistent rumbling and clanking of mills crushing ores, he tried to explain the cost of their operation.
“We spend Php 100,000 per month on calamansi alone,” he shared, which would explain the stench permeating throughout the area. He further revealed that they spend about 1 million pesos per month on electricity and buy 40 kilogrammes of mercury, which at the time, cost around Php 8,000 per kilogramme.
One would wonder how much gold this operation extracts in a month with such high operational costs, which don’t yet include the salaries of nearly 100 workers. But that was not the main purpose of the visitors. The last bit of information, the amount of mercury being used in the mining facility, is what the visiting team from the environmental NGO BAN Toxics was primarily after.
BAN Toxics has been at the forefront of the campaign to eliminate mercury and mercury compounds for more than a decade. The group is one of the first NGOs to work closely with artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities, which previous studies have revealed to be the largest source of mercury emissions in the country, as well as globally.
Mercury use in ASGM
Located in Brgy. Luklukan Sur, in the town of Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte, Jun’s mining operation is just one of about 25 other facilities in the barangay. It is an open secret that mercury use in ASGM operations in Jose Panganiban and the nearby mining towns of Paracale and Labo continues to this day. In fact, the majority of ASGM facilities all over the country use mercury in their operations.
Mercury is used in mining to capture gold from milled ores. The process may vary, but in Jun’s facility, different amounts of calamansi juice and one Gatorade bottle cap of mercury, approximately 136 grammes, are added to each ball or rod mill, which contains 1 to 1.5 sacks of crushed ore. After 1 to 1.5 hours of grinding, the drums are washed with a pressurised hose, and a slurry of the mercury-containing gold sediments is collected.
Using a wooden pan, the slurry undergoes panning and is washed a couple more times to remove impurities. The slurry is then filtered through a small piece of cloth that is squeezed to isolate the gold-mercury amalgam. The amalgamation process is repeated on the remaining slurry to capture more gold, while the remaining mercury is recovered and reused.
Later, all of the acquired gold-mercury amalgam will be smelted in the same facility, yielding the final gold product. This process releases mercury into the air.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury
Mercury, locally called “asoge,” is a highly toxic, naturally occurring heavy metal. It is a neurotoxin that can cause irreparable damage to the nervous system. Prolonged exposure to mercury may also harm the eyes, lungs, kidneys, digestive, and immune systems. Infants, children, and developing fetuses are particularly vulnerable to its harmful developmental effects, including brain damage, hearing, and vision problems.
Mercury is indestructible, which means it will forever persist in the environment. It can accumulate in living organisms and biomagnify in the food chain. Releases and emissions of mercury can therefore contaminate entire ecosystems.
Mercury use in ASGM is strictly prohibited under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2019-20 (DAO 2019-20), as well as the Minamata Convention on Mercury, to which the Philippines is a party.
On July 8, 2020, the Philippine government ratified the Minamata Convention, the first legally binding global treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from man-made emissions of mercury and mercury compounds.
The Convention was named after the mercury contamination in Minamata Bay, Japan, in the 1950s, which resulted in an epidemic among residents around the bay of what is now known as Minamata disease, which affects the central nervous system. Over two thousand people died in the tragedy, while thousands more experienced crippling injuries.
The Convention’s provisions address the entire life cycle of mercury, including controls and reductions across a range of products, processes, and industries where mercury is used, released, or emitted.
But four years after the ratification, mercury-use in Camarines Norte remains widespread.
Poverty-driven industry
In 2019, BAN Toxics published a study which assessed the factors contributing to the continued use of mercury in the ASGM. Titled “Illicit Mercury Flows and Governance Practices in Mindanao, Philippines,” the study identified the poverty-driven nature of ASGM and the lack of government support as the primary reasons, among others.
The paper states: “The majority of small-scale miners in the Philippines are engaged in subsistence mining. As much as 75% of the total ASGM population barely earn enough for the day’s needs, e.g., miners usually only earn enough to buy food, water, and other needs on any given day. On days where no gold is produced, miners and their families will be left with no money to purchase food. For most miners, they are left with no choice but to accrue significant debts to provide for their families.”
According to Arlene Galvez, adviser to the Samahang Magkakabod ng Camarines Norte (SAMACANO), the provincial federation of small-scale miners, while there are existing mercury alternatives to capturing gold, the subsistence nature of the sector discourages them from using such methods.
“Alternatives like cyanidation are time-consuming. It is not viable for miners to wait days or months to accumulate the required volume of ores to be able to process via these (cyanide) plants,” Galvez said, adding that the method is also costly.
Cyanidation is one of the mercury-free alternatives available right now for gold extraction. Though also highly toxic, cyanide does not persist in the environment.
Jam Lorenzo, author of the aforementioned study and BAN Toxics Policy Development and Research Officer, cites that insufficient support from the government also translates to the lack of opportunities for miners to access safer technologies.
“ASGM remains largely informal, with the majority of mining communities in the country operating illegally. As such, miners have little or no access to basic social services and are victimised by corruption and extortion, which further contributes to the cycle of poverty,” Lorenzo adds.
Formalisation of ASGM
BAN Toxics advocates for the formalisation of the ASGM sector, seeing it as an essential step toward proper government support and accessible mercury-free technology. Formalization means miners are licensed to operate within a declared “Minahang Bayan” or People’s Small-Scale Mining Area. This requires small-scale miners to follow environmentally responsible practices, comply with regulations, establish committees to oversee operations, promote development, and provide livelihoods while protecting the environment.
“But the approval of Minahang Bayan itself is extremely challenging due to the exorbitant costs of mining applications, the limited validity of mining contracts, and bureaucratic red tape,” Lorenzo said, adding that a mining contract typically requires approximately 1 million pesos to meet the stringent requirements set by the DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB).
Based on the latest Mining Industry Statistics released on March 11, 2024, by the DENR-MGB, there are currently 58 approved and registered Minahang Bayan and 167 ongoing applications nationwide. In Camarines Norte, there are three registered and 32 pending Minahang Bayan applications, according to Galvez. One mining association in Jose Panganiban has yet to get their Minahang Bayan permit and small-scale mining contract despite having spent over 5 million pesos since 2014.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo noted that formalization should go hand-in-hand with other programs addressing poverty and other social services, as well as enforcement of laws and regulations, especially on the entry of illegal mercury and mercury-added products in the country.
Illegal Trade
Lorenzo pointed out that since the Palawan Quicksilver Mines closed in 1976, there have been no mercury mining operations in the country. “Evidence indicates that mercury in the Philippines comes from neighboring countries like China, Indonesia, and Malaysia, entering the country through both illegal and legal channels.”
Galvez meanwhile remarked that while there are suppliers of mercury in ASGM communities, there will be buyers. “Miners also wonder how, despite being illegal, those selling mercury are known personalities and persons of authority in the communities.”
Article 3 of the Minamata Convention does not allow the import of mercury without government consent, ensuring that both the mercury source and proposed use comply with the Convention and applicable domestic law.
“Addressing the transboundary trade of mercury remains a significant challenge for the country, not just in ASGM but also with other mercury products. To this day, BAN Toxics monitors the continued entry of imported mercury-containing beauty products, which are sold cheaply in both online and physical stores,” Lorenzo said.
Moving Forward
On June 7, 2024, Galvez held a workshop on mercury toxicity for new officers and members of SAMACANO and Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE) labour inspectors in Daet, Camarines Norte. Jun was also in attendance.
Galvez said that despite the persistence of mercury-use in Camarines Norte, what’s changed now is the level of awareness in communities with regards to mercury. “They are more aware now on the need to eliminate mercury, let’s say, compared to 10 years ago. But they are really just looking for alternatives that will still meet the needs of the miners.”
SAMACANO president, Rolando Persia, spoke at the workshop about gravity concentration method, a mercury-free alternative to capturing gold that they use in their operations in Brgy. Malaya, Labo.
Gravity concentration is a natural method of separating gold from milled ores by sluicing and skilled panning using a metal pan. Sluices are inclined, flat-bottomed troughs lined with a trapping mechanism to capture gold particles. According to Persia, this method has a gold recovery rate of 75% to 90%.
By the end of the workshop, Jun and other mining financiers who still use mercury expressed interest in being trained in the gravity concentration method, to which Persia agreed.
Persia said that as much as they want to train everyone on their method, they cannot do it alone. “The government should go to the miners directly and train them in mercury-free (alternatives)”.
The workshop is part of a series of activities in preparation for the upcoming 5th National Assembly of the National Coalition of Small-Scale Miners in the Philippines. Inc, (NCSSMPI) to be held on July 24-27, 2024, in Camarines Norte.
NCSSMPI was founded in 2016 after the 4th National ASGM Mining Summit hosted by BAN Toxics, with the goal of promoting responsible small-scale mining, including sustainable mercury-free methods. Currently, the NCCSMPI has more than 40 small-scale mining associations from across the country as its members, with BAN Toxics serving as the secretariat.
One of the main goals of the 5th Assembly is updating proposed amendments to RA 7076, the “People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991,” and the National Action Plan for Small-Scale Miners.
According to Lorenzo, the 33-year-old RA 7076 is outdated and in need of amendment that would “strengthen the provisions on the prohibition on the use of mercury by providing adequate economic and institutional support to miners that encourage the shift to mercury-free technologies and protects them from exploitation and abuse from stakeholders who benefit from the illicit mercury trade.”
The proposed amendment also includes streamlining the application process for the declaration of Minahang Bayan areas and approval of small-scale mining contracts, among other changes.
“It is our hope that the 5th Assembly will further strengthen the Coalition and drive small-scale miners forward to a mercury-free future,” Lorenzo concluded.
Currently, BAN Toxics is working on other projects related to mercury, including continuous market monitoring of mercury-added products, research on the mercury material flow in the country, and the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project, which plans to assess the status of mercury-containing medical devices and assist in their final disposal.
For now, Jun continues to find the risk of using mercury worth its weight in gold.
One of the deadliest diseases ravaging the world today is cholera. This is largely due to lack of good hygiene practices, including hand washing.
Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare
The disease is contracted through drinking or eating food contaminated with cholera bacterium and also through open defecation.
Experts say cholera is an acute diarrhoea disease that kills within hours if not immediately attended. If unchecked, it spreads very fast.
“Cholera is a highly infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
“It is a waterborne disease that spreads rapidly in conditions where clean water and proper sanitation are lacking.
“The primary mode of transmission is through the ingestion of contaminated water or food.
“Symptoms of cholera include vomiting, profuse dehydration, and diarrhoea (rice water stools), which can lead to death if not properly treated,’’ says Shehu Shinkafi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.
Available data estimates that 1.3 million to 4.0 million cases of cholera infection with 21,000 to 143, 000 deaths worldwide, each year.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recorded an increase in cases of cholera over the past years, especially in 2022, when it tallied about 472,697 cases resulting in 2349 deaths.
The cases, according to WHO, were recorded in 44 countries. The figure represents 25 per cent increase recorded in 35 countries in 2021.
The recent outbreaks have also been more deadly, with fatality rates being the highest recorded in over the decades.
Nigeria confirmed 65 cases with 30 deaths from Jan.1 to June 11 across 96 Local Government Areas in 30 states, according to statistics released by Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC).
According to NCDC, a total of 1,141 suspected cases have been recorded between Jan.1 and the time of filing this report, with 10 states contributing 90 per cent of the total number.
The states are Bayelsa, Zamfara, Abia, Cross River, Bauchi, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Nasarawa and Lagos.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the situation is under control with reduction in fatalities being recorded.
“Overtime, with the increased awareness at the federal, state, and local government level, we expect a downward trend of cases in the next couple of weeks,” NCDC Director-General, Mr Jide Idris, said.
While the authorities battle to contain the cholera outbreak in the country, health experts say cholera is preventable by ensuring access to safe, potable drinking water, good sanitation and proper waste disposal.
A medical consultant, Dr Raji Adebayo, urged government to strengthen its disease and national preparedness to rapidly detect and respond to any outbreak.
Adebayo said government at all levels must also provide primary, secondary and tertiary treatment for any victims of cholera whenever such outbreak occurs to avoid risk of an epidemic.
He said that toilet facilities to including water; tissue papers, hand sanitisers, among other health kits should be provided at strategic work and public places.
“There are some slums that do not have facilities to maintain good hygiene. Government needs to send community health workers to those these areas.
“This is in order to provide the needed assistance to the people in order to reduce open defecation in rivers and drainages.
“The water from the rivers is what these communities consume and unfortunately their contamination results to cholera outbreaks and later deaths.
“I think prevention should be from the people. On the part of government, the people should be provided with basic toilet facilities,” he said.
Adebayo called for community engagement through support of critical stakeholders to and enlightened the people on the high risk of cholera disease and its prevention.
Also, a tropical medicine and hygiene expert, Dr Agboola Progress, called for special units at federal and state medical centers for victims of cholera.
“Government needs to provide special units across its own hospitals in order to help check cholera outbreaks and associated challenges.
“Federal Medical Centre (FMC) at Ebute Meta in Lagos State has special cholera wards because of the high cases of victims in the state.
“I think other states should do the same thing by having such high level of preparedness for any outbreak,” he suggested.
Mrs Omotayo Adeyemi, a public health consultant and Director of Finance, Benson Adeyemi Foundation (BAF), an NGO, said government should take action to prevent cholera outbreaks rather than always reacting to them.
Adeyemi, however, advised those with cholera symptoms should not wait till when their conditions worsen before seeking medical help.
Olakunle Ajayi, U.S.-based health economist, says data gathering and management is important in the control of disease outbreak, including cholera.
“Analysing data helps understand the spread and impact of the disease, identifying hotspots, tracking the progression of the outbreak, and predicting future trends.
“With accurate data, resources such as medical supplies, clean water, and sanitation facilities, as well as human resources like healthcare workers, can be directed to where they are needed most.
“Effective communication with the public is essential to keep people informed about the outbreak and preventive measures, reducing panic and encouraging practices that limit the spread of the disease,” he said.
