06 Jan New plant in Atacama will eliminate the use of mercury in the gold extraction process.

This initiative seeks to comply with the Minamata Convention, which seeks to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

Within the framework of his visit to the Atacama Region, the biminister of Energy and Mining, Juan Carlos Jobet, met with small miners from the Asociación Gremial de Inca de Oro, headed by José Araya, where he participated in the placement of the first stone that officially started the construction of the gold extraction plant that will eliminate the use of mercury in the process.

To carry out this project, which will benefit 104 pirquineros in the area, the association received $234 million through regional funds, a historic amount granted to this sector of the Atacama Region.

This initiative seeks to comply with the Minamata Convention – signed by Chile-, which aims to protect human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds.

By the end of this year, the Atacama Region should have three plants that will reduce or eliminate the use of mercury. This will mean an investment that exceeds $792 million.

Source: Chilean Mining.