The relational challenges between mining companies and artisanal gold miners are not new and are fairly universal from one country to the next. As we wrote in two previous articles (Formalization of Artisanal Gold Mining 1 and 2), the role that semi-industrial and small-scale mining companies can play is decisive for Artisanal Mining. These companies, especially,
On barely visible bush paths, followed by his wife Fatou and their three little boys, Noufou and his family had trekked a very long distance, sleeping at night under a tree, lost in the middle of nowhere, trying to beg for a little food in the villages they passed. They crossed the border hiding from
The contemporaneousness of Large-Scale Mining companies (LSMs) and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining companies (ASMs) is a quandary that has existed since the inception of Mining Ministries and government allocated concessions. One could compare the tensions between industrial companies setting up operations in a given territory for which they have obtained all the proper legal authorizations
It’s still dark when Aminata* wakes up. This night, as is often the case, was short and unbearably hot. She kept her newborn baby close to her, nursing from time to time. The regular breathing of her other children, all lying beside her and lined up on old worn mats, kept her awake for a
From a sustainable development perspective, and ultimately from a development perspective, the aspect of mine site rehabilitation is crucial. When you visit a former artisanal gold mining site, but also semi-mechanized and industrial mine site, even if the challenges are sometimes different, you quickly understand how crucial it is. In West Africa, the mining sites
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston, Texas (May 10th, 2018) Barksanem™ (BSM™) Inc., announces the signing of two (2) Licenses for the African continent. Barksanem™ Inc., is a marketing company that sells the intellectual property detained by Etienne Atger and his team for the mining sector. In the first quarter of 2019, two companies have signed
What can we do about Justin the artisanal miner ? I appreciate everyone’s feedback on the article about “Justin” the artisanal miner. First of all, let me say that “Justin” is obviously a fictional young person that painfully and honestly depicts the harsh reality of thousands of young boys and girls across Africa (I am
When I (Etienne) started working in artisanal mining in West Africa, artisanal gold mining was seen, by international and government agencies, as a problem that had to be eradicated at all costs. As a result, the world of artisanal gold mining had to remain anonymous and informal, they didn’t fit current frameworks… Today things have
