1. An Overview of ASM in Asia
Prof. Mihir Deb
Director, School of Environmental Studies
University of Delhi, Delhi , India

2. Outline Countries covered in this review ASM commodities
Status of ASM in these countries
Different issues
Various initiatives
Future directions for CASM-Asia

3. Asian countries covered in the overview

5. ASM Commodities

6. Countries Commodities
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
Cambodia
Philippines
Mongolia
India
Thailand
Vietnam
Malaysia
Korea
Gold, Coal, Tin, (Iron , Manganese, Bauxite) & minor minerals
Gold (tailings & mine waste, alluvial dust, alluvial wash, gold veins/lodes)
Gold
Gold, Coal, Sand & Gravel, Limestone, Chromite, Clay
Gold, Coal, Fluorspar, (Lignite), (Tin), Mercury
Gold, Coal, Tin, gemstones, Sand & Gravel, Building stones
Gold, Tin, Gemstones, Salt
Coal, Iron, Tin, Building stones, Sand, Gravel etc
Tin (alluvial)
Gold, Iron, Titanium and other non metallic SSM

7. Status of ASM

8. Mostly illegal; New mining law still under consideration of the House of Representatives
300, ,000 workers in 77,000 mining sites
Under Mining Act and Regulations; 157 approved SSM leases including 16 alluvial mining leases. 15,000 – 20,000 workers; Illegal mining also thriving
Considerable economic impact with annual Au production of 60,000-70,000 ounces valued at $ million/year
Laws on management & mineral resources (2001) has provision of artisanal mining license of area not greater than one hectare and maximum depth of 5 meters. 80,000 workers involved in ASM
Legal provisions available for SSM: “People’s SSM Act” including administration order of Hg control. 700 sites; 200,000 workers.
All ASM illegal; Legislation on ASM still not passed by Parliament. ~ 100,000 ASM miners (in summer) mine 4-5 tons of gold, 85% of which is smuggled to China or Russia
Indonesia
Papua New
Guinea
Cambodia
Phillipines
Mongolia

9. Status (contd.) India Thailand Vietnam Laos S.Korea Malaysia
Non-legal; no law or regulations exist in the National Mineral Policy for ASM: No environmental provisions for SSM; 1 million workers in 10,000 sites
Regulated through Mineral & Industrial Law; also thrives illegally. 21,500 workers; mining sites
Legal ASM of all metals when exploration is not needed or compulsory; 35,000-45,000 workers; mining sites
No illegal ASM; 50,000 workers
Legal SSM of metallic and some nonmetallic minerals
Regulated through panning license, given to women only; 4,600 workers; 83 mining sites; No use of chemicals
Myanmar: 14,000 workers, 50 to120 sites;
Pakistan: 90,000 to 3,70,000 workers;
2400 to 3250 sites
Nepal: 500 workers;45 sites

10. Issues

11. Environmental Degradation
Indonesia
Land degradation in Kalimantan; Land instability, destruction of riverbank and living environment
Environmental damage due to water contamination, polluted river water, tailing debris flowback into river
1989 : Extensive primary forest cover
1999 : Extensive forest removal and vast area of mined sands
Phillipines
Soil erosion, siltation,
destruction of topography,
forest denudation, damage
to agricultural land
1999 : Sand from Mining (cyan) 78 km sq
2004: Sand from Mining (cyan) 102 km sq

12. Pollution and health Mongolia Indonesia Papua New Guinea Phillipines
Miners not aware of Hg and cyanide hazard. Processing is done by amalgamation and cyanidation; Pollution of soil, air & water. Appearance of Minamata disease at places
Health problem due to Hg & Cyanide: 150 Kg Hg dumped in Chikinaki River each day in ; in central Kalimantan ~50 tons of Hg is entering into water bodies each year
Suspended sediment load in river systems; water discolouration; Hg usage
Hg pollution of surface and ground water, air, soil/land and also in food web. Poor living conditions also affecting health
Use of cyanide in gold processing affecting both ground and surface waters
Mongolia
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
Phillipines
Cambodia

13. Social Issues Indonesia Papua New Guinea India Cambodia
Social unrest due to gambling, drinking, prostitution; ASM breeds anarchy; conflict with large mining companies; violence
Low literacy; high infant mortality; STD/HIV/AIDS; drug & alcohol abuse.
Alluvial mining of Au and Sn by indigenous groups; lack of sociological data; Many areas affected by Naxalite movement.
Anarchy, mafia and smuggling of coal across the border of Nepal and Bangladesh.
Indigenous people need to be protected from the negative impact of ASM and supplied with uncontaminated water, air and soil.
Indonesia
Papua New Guinea
India
Cambodia

14. Others Phillipines Indonesia Cambodia Papua New Guinea India
Mine accidents common in most countries
Hazards due to unsafe mining practices; unstable pit slope; landslides; unsafe working areas.
Low recovery (~60%); waste of mineral resources going into tailings.
Lack of effective communication with miners; conflict between indigenous people & local miners or local miners and mining companies.
Lack of financial resources for appropriate equipments etc.; No reclamation of mine land; Hardly any government support for miners; Accidents and deaths not uncommon.
Phillipines
Indonesia
Cambodia
Papua New Guinea
Habitat loss of endangered species like ghariyals (Gavialis gangeticus) & turtles by uncontrolled sand mining in Chambal river bank, Central India
India

15. Initiatives (some examples)

16. Indonesia Papua New Guinea
Government initiative through ‘people’s mining area’ or through small scale assistance: Local village cooperatives (KUDs) with permits
Mercury hazard awareness program
Global mercury project of UNIDO in central Kalimantan and Sulawasi
Papua New Guinea
Mercury awareness amongst mining community
Improved mining techniques and increased gold production.
Establishment of Wau Micro Bank (ADB) to assist miners with mini loans and banking facilities
Conference (WIM) to address gender issues in mining communities
External donor assistance through AusAid, World Bank, JSDF, SYSMIN

17. India
Clear-cut definition and distinction between artisanal and small scale mining
Locate the responsible body within the administration to deal with ASM, e.g., Village level ‘Panchayats’.
Review the existing legal framework for mining in the country, with special attention to ASM, making it a sustainable, poverty-alleviating, environment-friendly enterprise.
Develop a database of ASM sites in the country

18. Future directions for CASM-Asia
Legal provisions for ASM in all countries as a sustainable long-term
economic activity; Policy for mining rights of cultural minorities within
their lands.
Capacity building of small scale miners through improved mining
technology, micro-financing and business development: to help in
poverty alleviation
Base line study of health issues particularly with respect to mercury
and cyanide toxicity.
Reclamation and remediation of degraded lands and ecosystems
Involvement of government agencies, NGOs in and external donor assistance to ASM sector, for better living standards for miners and for
protection of the environment.
Development of a comprehensive ASM database

23. Thank you
for
your attention