The Ghana Chamber of Mines has teamed up with the International Cyanide Management Institute (ICMI) to host a two-day workshop on implementation and auditing of the International Cyanide Management Code
effective cyanide management and risk minimization.
The event, which is the third in series, kicked off on October 8, 2024, in Accra, has drawn approximately 160 participants from mining companies, haulage firms, auditors, and regulators from Ghana and beyond.
According to Sulemanu Koney, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, this training is vital for promoting responsible mining practices. "The use of cyanide in gold extraction has been a long-standing practice, but we recognize the potential risks associated with its handling, use, and storage," he emphasized.
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| Sulemanu Koney, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines |
The workshop aims to share best practices, discuss emerging technologies, and explore innovative solutions to improve cyanide management. Koney also highlighted the importance of responsible mining, particularly in the face of illegal mining activities in Ghana.
To operate responsibly, we need to be at the bleeding edge of innovation, knowledge, and consciousness to apply what we know in practice," he added.
There are various other chemicals which can be used to facilitate the gold extraction. But for the larger industry, cyanide appears to be the number one. However, it also has its own hazards when it comes to its use.
And to ensure that we actually operate responsibly using cyanide the right way, limiting its impact on the environment, and the employees who actually come to work with it, as well as the company. we actually collaborate with the International Cyanide Technology Institute to run this workshop for our companies, not just the participating companies. But as you can tell, even those who are into the transportation of the chemical as well, Koney explained.
The President, International Cyanide Management Institute, Paul Bateman, in his opening remarks gave an over about the cyanide code. He said Cyanide was critical to Global Gold Industry. It ensures high recovery and economical compared with alternatives. Over 100 years of experience – well understood by industry and regulators. Highly toxic to humans and environment but must be managed safely.
He explained that the code is a standards and certification programme for the gold and silver mining industry’s management of cyanide. Cyanide Code is bringing rigor to the industry’s management of cyanide. The Code provides an assurance framework for stakeholders to assess participants’ safe management of cyanide, to raise the bar on performance in a credible, transparent manner to reduce the frequency and severity of cyanide related incidents, thereby protecting human health and the environment. Additionally, it is to elevate the global industry’s performance by extending the Cyanide Code’s reach so that Code is the baseline for every gold and silver mining operation that uses cyanide.
The ICMI's Senior Vice President, Dr. Eric Schwamberger, took participants through the cyanide code structure, auditors, auditing, and audits. He also covered specific documents for mining, transport, and production operations, including verification protocols and guidance for using these protocols.
The Key topics discussed included:
- International cyanide management codes and standards
- Risk assessment and mitigation strategies
- Safe handling and transportation practices
- Environmental monitoring and rehabilitation
This partnership demonstrates the Ghana Chamber of Mines' commitment to sustainability and environmental safety. By working together with ICMI, the organization seeks to ensure the safe handling and management of cyanide, protecting employees, local communities, and the environment
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