At a workshop held in Ouagadougou on 20 June 2023, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (Alliance pour une Mine Responsible, AMR) presented the results of its project to support the creation of legal and responsible artisanal and small-scale mining in Burkina Faso. Called sanu kura, this project has produced satisfactory and encouraging results.
Many authorities, international and national personalities attended the workshop presenting the results of the Sanu Kura project. They included the ambassador of the European Union delegation in Burkina Faso, the Representative of the Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries and the West African Coordinator of the Alliance for Responsible Mining (AMR).
The results of the Sanu Kura project
“Over the 4 years that the sanu kura project has been running, we have seen concrete results from our collaboration (…) Legal and viable production and marketing channels have been established, and more environmentally-friendly techniques and technologies have been tested and adopted by artisanal miners”, said the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) delegation, Wolfram Vetter.
Désiré Nikiema, AMR’s West Africa Coordinator, added to the list of project results, which include empowering artisanal miners, improving mining practices, improving worker health and safety, and formalising the artisanal mining sub-sector. More specifically, the project has enabled 17 mining associations and 6 mining cooperatives to be set up. “There are also two options for processing mining products without the use of chemicals: the production of direct gold without the use of chemicals (mercury, cyanide), and the production of sponge gold with a 90% reduction in the use of mercury. In addition, more than 3,000 people have been trained in entrepreneurship as part of this project”, he continued.
Managers and financial partners satisfied with results
Desiré Nikiema believes that the achievements of this project will enable the various players in the artisanal mining sub-sector to follow the path they have mapped out in order to achieve good results. “These are interesting and satisfying results. No human work is perfect, but we think that with these achievements, we already have a good basis for continuing to improve other aspects in the future,” he said.
The ambassador of the EU delegation said he was very pleased and particularly proud to see the progress made thanks to their partnership with the AMR and the Burkinabe government. He said that this project is a real catalyst for change that has opened up new prospects for the artisanal and small-scale mining sub-sector in Burkina Faso.
The president of the Ouagadougou Commune special delegation, speaking through his 3rd vice-president Ouedraogo/Tiemtoré Mamounata, pointed out that the project is innovative and has been a real lever for the development of mining and small-scale communities in Burkina Faso.
A promising future for Sanu Kura
“We are convinced that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) can be an engine for sustainable growth, provided that responsible practices are promoted to strengthen governance and ensure environmental protection and workers’ rights. We will continue to provide financial, technical and political support to build capacity, promote regional integration and foster the emergence of sustainable industries in Burkina Faso”, Wolfram Vetter concluded his speech.
Finally, the AMR’s West Africa Coordinator explained that they had concentrated their efforts on three key dimensions: the socio-organisational dimension; the technical, technological, environmental and health and safety dimension; and the responsible supply chain dimension. He explained their ambition to test in the future the possibility of creating a chain of traceability from production to marketing at international level.
Emmanuel Yaméogo, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Quarries, said that the Sanu Kura project embodies their commitment to responsible and sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining. He called for continued support from the Burkina Faso government to reinforce their actions in favour of responsible and sustainable small-scale mining in Burkina Faso.
Satisfaction is palpable among beneficiaries
Ouédraogo Tasseré is a beneficiary of the sanu kura project. He expressed his satisfaction with the project to the press. “Since the project began in our locality, there has been a big improvement in our working conditions, especially in terms of organisation. Before, we had a lot of misunderstandings when it came to managing our work tools. But now that the project has enabled us to organise ourselves into associations, everything has improved and we’re happy,” he says.
Désiré Bayen, a beneficiary of the project in Poua, Sanguié commune, acknowledged that the project had brought many positive benefits to his commune. “There’s the training and the provision of equipment and materials. We hope that the project will be extended, because it will help our communes enormously”, he explained.
The sanu kura project lasted 4 years (2019-203). Led by the AMR, it covered 3 regions of Burkina Faso: the Centre-West, the Centre-North and the South-West. It is funded by the European Union through its instrument contributing to stability and peace.
The Alliance for Responsible Mining (AMR) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded in 2004 with the aim of generating equity and well-being in artisanal and small-scale mining communities.
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