Daiichi Institute of Technology contributes to an international event
2022-11-09
On Oct. 30, 2022, Professor Satoshi Murao was invited to “Mercury Legacy in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining”. This was a partner event of “EcoBalance 2022*” and was held with a hybrid style at Fukuoka Convention Center.
* A forum for discussions on environmental performance evaluation, information disclosure regarding evaluation results, and for the development and implementation of discussed methods.
Prof Murao gives a comprehensive presentation on the ASGM issues.
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is a type of gold recovery usually by people without registration who use rudimentary tools. Miners use mercury to extract gold from ore, and because of the large population engaged, ASGM has been the biggest contributor to the global mercury emissions.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury which entered into force in 2017 aims at solving mercury problems including those arising from ASGM. In this context the Convention’s Secretariat participated in this event.
In addition, Dr Tatiane Marin and Professor Jacopo Seccatore, both of Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, joined the meeting. Mr Hitoshi Yoshizaki of Ministry of the Environment, Japan also discussed ASGM issues online.
Speakers and topics at the event
Professor Murao who has studied the ASGM more than 30 years presented a holistic picture as well as some scientific information. At the end of the talk he stressed that the tailings should be studied in detail to prevent the environmental degradation and health damage by mercury contamination.
A group photo after the meeting
(Department of International Relations)