Mechanisation-Alluvial-Artisanal-Diamond-Mining

6.3.2 – Guidance on best practice in AADMRegardless of the nature of the pilot projector promotional measures for artisanal alluvialdiamond mining, it is highly advisable to base thisupon a concept of best practice. Mechanisationwill change the mining processes applied andwill lead to new risks related to the environment,compliance with national legal and fiscalrequirements, occupational health & safety, andsocial well-being. Therefore, it is indispensableto have miners, officials, and other relevantstakeholders mutually agree on a clear conceptof responsible mining, integrating environmental,social and economic principles. Both, governmentalagencies as well as ASM operators, shouldcommit themselves to this voluntary code aimedat responsible mining practices and sustainabledevelopment. These voluntary codes are animportant element complementing the existingbinding legal framework.6.3.3 – Develop further understanding ofbarriers and success factors for formalisationGiven the importance of formalisation for the KPmember countries as well as for the mechanisationof AADM further research into barriers and successfactors for formalisation would be prudent to ensurethat mechanisation would indeed be the optimalavenue for achieving this other goal. In a firststep, it would be highly valuable to systematicallyassess the situation in other countries.6.3.4 – Support formalisation of AADM byintegrating the sector in the EITI processIn DRC, Ghana and Sierra Leone attempts aremade to achieve certification under the ExtractiveIndustries Transparency Initiative (EITI), whichgenerally focuses on the formal mining sector.Nevertheless, an inclusion of the artisanal sectorcan contribute to an optimised dialogue betweenthe key stakeholders, thereby enhancing theenvironment for formalisation.6.4 Proposals for pilot projectsIn order to support the mechanisation of AADMwithin the KP member countries pilot measuresare desirable. Given the informality of the AADMsector, it is highly recommended that if programmesare to engage these informal actors, the proposedassistance should be given in a legally shelteredarea. This means the governments would be part ofthe pilot project agreements and would guaranteethat the pilot projects operate under a specialregime on the understanding that they are beingused to generate experiences for more successfulsector development.6.4.1 – Locally improve and adapt existingtechnologies for diamond concentrationAs a consequence of the analysis of barriers andsuccess factors for the technology transfer partof a pilot project, the techniques to be appliedshould not be selected only for their technicalmerits. Specifically, the socio-economic and socioculturalbackgrounds of the miners, and the localand regional infrastructure of the zone, shouldbe integrated into the planning. This particularlyincludes the possibilities of local equipmentmanufacture. The majority of the equipmentrequired for alluvial diamond gravel concentrationshould and can be produced in national, regionaland local factories. The focus shall rather be onoptimising a known technique and improve itsoperation than to introduce a new one. Especiallyfor the African AADM countries the developmentand dissemination of an appropriate packageof trommel, jig, pumps and energy generatingsystem is required, as well as the development ofsimple dredges in combination with concentrationequipment. Locally manufactured tools fromGuyana could serve as masters for adaptation andlocal manufacture in the African target countries.18