Artisanal gold mining is characterised by a lack of reliable statistics on the number of sites, the number of operators, production, etc. Regarding the number of sites, according to 2018 data from the National Agency for the Supervision of Artisanal and Semi-Mechanised Mining (Agence nationale d’Encadrement des Exploitations minières artisanales et Semi-mécanisées – ANEEMAS), out of more than 800 sites listed, more than 600 are active.
Few reliable statistics in a sector where fraud reigns
Between one and two million people make a direct living from artisanal mining, compared with more than 4 million indirect beneficiaries. These statistics were provided by Viviane Yaméogo of ANEEMAS at the second Artisanal Miners’ Day held in Gaoua on 21 and 22 July 2023. However, she admits that the figures are far from reality.
The sector is also characterised by production fraud. An INSD survey estimated that 9.5 tonnes of gold were produced in 2016. But some observers put the figure at between 15 and 20 tonnes a year. But only 209 kg of gold were declared for export, resulting in a loss of revenue for the State and local authorities.
Landslides, floods, explosions
Artisanal mining is rife with accidents and incidents. Between 2010 and 2023, 632 deaths were recorded, mainly as a result of rockslides, floods, explosions, etc. on the sites. While 300 deaths were recorded between 2010 and 2020, in 2021, 192 deaths and 112 injuries were recorded. In 2022, 140 deaths and 150 injuries will be recorded. The high death toll in 2021 is explained by the murder of 132 people at the Solhan site. At this site, 76 people were injured. The high number of casualties in 2022 is explained by the explosion at the Gongombiro site, which caused the death of 63 people. Viviane Yaméogo warns that these figures are far from the reality.
Tiba Kassamse OUEDRAOGO
Mines Actu Burkina
