Formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining in Mozambique: Concerns, priorities and challenges

Hilson, Gavin; Mondlane, Salvador; Hilson, Abigail; Arnall, Alex; Laing, Tim

doi:10.1016/j.resourpol.2021.102001

Cited by 35 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Despite its increased importance to employment and the national economy, small‐scale mining remains unrecognised and informal because of the preference for large‐scale mining operations (Fritz et al, 2018; Hilson et al, 2019). Moreover, in some cases where laws favouring small‐scale mining are in place, bureaucratic challenges and the high cost of securing licences and permits impede or discourage miners from applying (Adu‐Baffour et al, 2021; Hilson et al, 2021). The difficulty in obtaining legal recognition is exacerbated by power dynamics that have influenced mining law implementation and legal resolution of competing claims (Hougaard & Vélez‐Torres, 2020; Maconachie & Conteh, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation by dispossession and hazardscape production in post‐corporate gold mining in Itogon, Philippines

Ocampo

Schmitz

2022

Geographical Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study investigates the experience of a gold mining community two decades after corporate mining activities ceased and were replaced by informal subcontract small‐scale mining in Itogon, Philippines. Drawing on David Harvey’s accumulation by dispossession and Daanish Mustafa’s hazardscape, we consider the lasting effects, from 1903, of dispossession upon the establishment of the first commercial mines in the Philippines as experienced by traditional miners in Itogon. Despite the closure of mining operations, mineral lands remain privately owned, resulting in the persistence of legal land dispossession among local small‐scale gold miners. Mining activities still continue as small‐scale miners are able to access abandoned mines through subcontract mining. Subcontract mining has changed the source of capital that funds mining activities from mining corporation to rent‐seeking small‐scale mining financiers, but the new economic relations still benefit from the capitalist logic of low natural resources and labour value. We argue that the production of hazardscapes is a consequence of accumulation by dispossession through (1) processes of expropriation of mineral lands and the consequent creation of free labour among local miners; (2) the externalisation environmental cost as an accumulation strategy that results in the production of socionatural hazards; and (3) exploitation of those who labour and who are made to work in precarious work environment while contributing to the production of hazardscapes.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Accumulation by dispossession and hazardscape production in post‐corporate gold mining in Itogon, Philippines

Ocampo

Schmitz

2022

Geographical Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…But in practice, many countries have set the threshold for applying for a licence very high, which makes it difficult for artisanal miners to obtain a licence. As a result, even in many countries where artisanal gold mining has been formalised, workers continue to operate without a licence, making the activity de facto illegal (Hilson et al 2021).…”

Section: Supply Chains Of Artisanal Gold: Illicit Informal and Illega...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent World Bank report also argues that small-scale mining has a high potential for economic development in many countries worldwide and should not only be seen as a comple ment to industrial mining, but rather as an activity with high economic potential. Hilson et al note that the rapid growth of artisanal mining is forcing more and more states and donors in Sub-Saharan Africa to consider far-reaching strategies to formalise artisanal mining (Hilson et al 2021). While some African countries have passed legislation to formalise artisanal mining and have implemented programmes to reform the sector, South Africa has been more reluctant to try such combined models.…”

Section: Artisanal Miners: Driven By Necessity or Criminal Activity?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Following the supply chain of “illegal” gold from South Africa

Müller¹

2022

Geopolitics of the Illicit

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In Liberia, many farm families grow rice to attract and feed labourers recruited specifically to mine for diamonds. In Cameroon, where poor markets and impenetrable forest constrain agricultural development, ASM is largely seasonal but is increasingly important for incomes [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Findings have revealed that despite showing considerable promise at first, the drive to formalize ASM in Mozambique has lost considerable momentum. A bureaucratic licensing scheme, overlapping responsibilities at the ministry of mineral resources and energy, and a shortage of information about miners have contributed to this slowdown [ 4 ]. Focusing on Liberia, Maconachie and Conteh have argued that the persistence of informality in the sector needs to first be understood as a rational strategy for those who profit from it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Participative epidemiology and prevention pathway of health risks associated with artisanal mines in Luhihi area, DR Congo

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Health issues are associated with artisanal mining in the DR Congo. The scenario is worst when artisanal mining is done informally or with limited material and technical resources. This paper argues that the adoption of healthy practices by artisanal miners might be limited given that it involves unrealistic socio-economic, and administrative aspects and access to health risk prevention means. Making a conceptual framework on the feasibility of revolutionizing artisanal mining practices linked to health risks in the DR Congo requires trans-disciplinary interventions and researches. This case study aims at co-analyzing with actors in the Luhihi artisanal gold mine, the epidemiology of health issues. It also aims at describing the dynamics of resources that mining actors mobilize or think they can mobilize in order to prevent health risks. Methods A “socio-anthropological” qualitative study with “transdisciplinary methods” was carried out the Luhihi artisanal mining. Data collection tools and methods included an exploratory survey, semi-structured interviews. Focus groups (FG) mixed with proportional piling were used to support the open-ended interview discussions. The actors interviewed were selected by “convenience sampling” and the saturation principle indicated the size of the sampling. In total, 67 persons were interviewed and 5 FG each consisting of 5 to 10 mining actors were organized. Data were triangulated among respondents to ensure their veracity and an “inductive thematic data analysis” was applied. Results Key findings are the role of actors involved the organization system at the Luhihi artisanal mining site; a description of a participative epidemiology and determinants of health issues; presentation of the importance of health risks as perceived by mining actors; the constraints in the common illenesses treatment; and opportunities of collective actions for gathering resources required for the organization of healthcare services. Conclusion The results are translated into a grid of powers and interests in relation to the mobilization of resources for the prevention and treatment of health issues. The dialogue for change regarding the ignorance of the actors to exposure to chemical risks such as to exposure mercury, silica, carbon monoxide, and cyanide also entailed the translation of the results. In addition, an analysis of the ability of artisanal mining actors to implement health risk prevention services was made.

show abstract

Formalizing artisanal and small-scale mining in Mozambique: Concerns, priorities and challenges

Cited by 35 publications

References 34 publications

Accumulation by dispossession and hazardscape production in post‐corporate gold mining in Itogon, Philippines

Accumulation by dispossession and hazardscape production in post‐corporate gold mining in Itogon, Philippines

Following the supply chain of “illegal” gold from South Africa

Participative epidemiology and prevention pathway of health risks associated with artisanal mines in Luhihi area, DR Congo

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About