Envigado, April 28

For those small miners on the way to formalization, the Alliance for Responsible Mining -ARM- is releasing this month the Practical Guide for the formalization of small mining in Colombia, published within the framework of the Somos Tesoro project. This guide, composed of five brochures, describes the steps that miners in Colombia must follow to meet the requirements established by the State to formalize their activity, while also providing tools to help in its implementation. With examples, tools and recommendations, the guide demonstrates the path to formalization, which consists of “Legalization; Qualifying and formalizing; Being productive and competitive; Generating well-being; Achieving Formal Mining status, Sustaining and Growing.” When miners meet the requirements for formalized mining, their economic activity is no longer only reliable, but also profitable, safe, environmentally sustainable and contributes to the development of communities and regions.

The guide explains in an instructive and simple way each one of the five aspects of mining formalization:

Brochure 1, “Legalization of small scale mining”, shows the different options that a miner has to legalize; The process of applying for a title; The consequences of mining an area without a mining title, among other aspects.

 Brochure 2, “Technical aspects of small-scale mining”, it highlights what a Work Plan is and how it works -PTO-, its content and presentation, and how to carry out a mining operation in safe and hygienic conditions.

Brochure 3, “Environmental Aspects of Small-scale Mining,” explains how to identify the environmental impacts generated by mining projects and what needs to be done to mitigate them. It informs on the environmental permits and policies required, and how to properly conduct waste management, so as to protect health, natural resources and landscape.

Brochure 4, “Socio-labor aspects of small-scale mining”, breaks down Colombian labor legislation and the Occupational Safety and Health Management System, as well as regulations on child labor, among other issues.

Brochure 5, “Economic and administrative aspects of small-scale mining” provides elements for the management of the mining company, from financial planning to taxation and the advantages of associating.

With these primers, which will be delivered by ARM to the small miners linked to the Somos Tesoro project and to the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy, we are taking another step in strengthening artisanal and small-scale mining in order to improve the living conditions of families and children in mining areas.

 

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