Gaitrie Usha Satnarain Msc
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Carbon Footprint in the Rosebel Gold Mines N.V. Concession in the Brokopondo District, Gaitrie Usha Satnarain MSc. A:Leysweg 86, Paramaribo, Suriname Suriname P: (+597)494756 E: [email protected] SUMMARY The economy of Suriname is greatly dependent on gold mining, which is one of the main cornerstones of Suriname´s economy. Apart from the financial benefits a certain degree of social and environmental disturbances goes along with mining activities. Hence, this research was undertaken with the purpose to estimate the carbon footprint in the Rosebel Goldmine Concession as the outcome of the mining activities of Rosebel Gold Mine N.V. (RGM), as well as the active small scale gold miners. Transport, electricity demand and deforestation were the three main greenhouse gas contributors that were assessed in the concession. The used method was in accordance with the guidelines of the United Nation Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC). The social impact of the mining activities was assessed through questionnaires. Hence, the local people from three villages near the concession were inter- viewed. The outcome of the research revealed that the annual carbon emissions of the small scale gold miners was significantly higher than that of RGM. In addition, the deforested area size due to small scale mining was higher compared to the activities of RGM. The social and environmental assessment confirmed the negative impact of the mining activities on the social, economic and environmental conditions of the local people. The assessment of Suri- name´s regulatory system revealed the lack of legislation which enforces miners to consider mitigation strategies. A detailed and follow up investigation is critically important in order to enhance climate change mitigation. INTRODUCTION Area description Gold mining generates large amounts of revenue in Suriname, but The study was executed in the RGM Concession (approximately 170 km²) located in the district Brokopondo, Suriname. also impacts the socio, economic and environmental conditions. These mining activities may lead to an increase of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and are expected to exacerbate global warming in the long term. The main gold mining-related activities contributing to carbon emission are forest clearance and fuel com- bustion (transport and electricity demand). The effects of global warming will not spare a country like Suriname and might be cata- strophic just like other vulnerable parts of the Caribbean (Mangnus, 2006). Even though Suriname has ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, there has not been any research on carbon emissions related to gold mining in Suriname. Therefore the research goal was to as- sess the carbon footprint of gold mining activities in Rosebel Gold Mine N.V. concession by small scale miners and the multinational RGM. The following research questions were assessed: . RGM Concession and mining activities Small scale mining scattered in RGM Concession 1.What levels of carbon emissions occur due to deforestation, transport and electricity associated with gold mining activities in the RGM Concession? 2.What is the level of the social, economic and environmental im- pact on the local community concerning gold mining-related car- bon emissions? 3.What are the national legal requirements for the mining sector in relation to climate change mitigation? EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The following methods were used to answer the research questions: 1.To estimate the carbon emissions, the following formulas were used: Deforestation: Carbon loss (tonnes of C) = Deforested area size (ha)* Above Ground Biomass (AGB) (tonnes C ha-1) (Crabbe et.al, 2012) Transportation: The fuel-based method (Garg & Pulles, 2006) Where: a = Type of fuel (petrol or diesel, Results show that the carbon emissions by the small scale gold miners is Fuela = Fuel sold, EFa = Emission factor. approximately twice as higher compared to that of RGM, even though the This is equal to the carbon content of the fuel multiplied by 44/12. small scale gold miners extract less gold annually than RGM. CONCLUSIONS Annual carbon emissions, extracted gold and carbon footprint RGM gold extraction is approximately nine times higher than the small 2.Questionnaire surveys were executed in the local villages of Mining activity Carbon Gold extracted Carbon scale gold miners’. However, the small scale gold miners have twice the Nieuw Koffiekamp, Klaaskreek and Brownsweg to assess the level scale emission annually footprint measured carbon emission of RGM, although the small scale gold miners of the social, economic and environmental impact on the local (tCO2eq/yr ) (Au kg/yr ) (tCO2 eq/Au kg) produce far less gold than RGM. community concerning gold mining-related carbon emissions. The estimated annual carbon footprint in the entire RGM Concession is ap- RGM 86,834.20 10,968.20 7.92 SMALL SCALE 168,057.43 1,241.67 135.35 proximately 143.27 tCO2/ Au kg (as calculated using the measured carbon 3.National legal institutions were consulted to assess the national le- GOLD MINERS emissions as input). gal requirements for the mining sector in relation to climate change Carbon footprint as calculated appears to be biased, due to assumptions mitigation. related to mining methods and mining equipment, which differ greatly be- RESULTS CARBON EMISSIONS tween small scale miners and industrial miners. 1.The electricity power is provided by hydropower, recognized as clean Carbon footprint will increase with expansion of the mining activities, includ- energy. Therefore, it is assumed to emit minimal carbon emissions. ing carbon loss. This means that the social, economic and environment im- 2.The disturbed area size due to mining activities of the small scale pact on the local communities will also expand. gold miners is larger than that of RGM which implies the greater While Suriname does not have specific legislation on the mitigation of amount of carbon loss due to the activities of small scale gold miners greenhouse gas emissions as yet, the study revealed that effective green- compared to RGM’s activities. house gas mitigation regulations and strategies is urgently needed in order to reduce carbon footprints and to comply with the Kyoto protocol. Annually disturbed area size, carbon loss, the amount of gold extracted REFERENCES Mining activity scale Disturbed area Carbon Loss Cambior Inc. and Rescan Environmental Services Ltd. 2003. Environmental Impact Assessment (area size/yr ) (Tonne C ) SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Rosebel Gold Project, Suriname. 963 pp. RGM 295.43 55,540.57 From the respondents: Crabbe, S., M. Djosetro, W. Hanoeman, M. Playfair, B. Pinas, C. Sanches, M. Sanches, A. Soe- tosenojo, R. Somopawiro, K. Tjon and V. Wortel. 2012. Technical Report: Results of Forest Car- SMALL SCALE GOLD MINERS 372.50 70,030.00 30% work in the small scale gold mining sector, while 16% is employed at RGM; bon Assessment and monitoring Project Suriname. 74 pp. Environmental Department, Rosebel Gold Mines N.V. 2011. Mine Closure Plan. Draft Report. 100% of the residents of Nieuw Koffiekamp experienced discomfort from the Environmental Department, Rosebel Gold Mines N.V. 2011. Third Quarter Wildlife Assessment RGM’s activities, including noise pollution during RGM blasting activities; Report. 4 pp. 100% reported a decrease of their protein sources, particularly the bush meat, Finisie, J. (Superintendent Community Relations Department of Rosebel Gold Mines N.V.). probably due to deforestation and noise pollution; 2012. Personal Communication. Garg, A. and T. Pulles. 2002. Draft 2006 IPCC guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Invento- 40% is concerned about unemployment and related uncertainties after the clo- ries. Volume 2. Energy. 319 sure of the RGM project; Heemskerk, M. and R. Kooye van der. 2003. Challenges to sustainable small-scale mine devel- opment in Suriname. 19 pp. 20% is worried about the level of mine closure (un-rehabilitated areas) and the Kesarsing, S. 2011. ARO Closure Summary. Rosebel Gold Mines N.V. 9 pp. adverse effects on the environment. Mangnus, M. 2006. The Implementation Possibilities of Renewable Energy in the rural areas of ASSESSMENT NATIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENTS Suriname. MSc. Thesis. Utrecht University, Utrecht. The Netherlands. 94 pp Consultation with national legal institutions revealed that the Surinamese legal ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Dr. Leonard Nurse; University of the West-Indies; Cave Hill Campus; Rosebel Gold Mines N.V.; villagers from Klaaskreek, Nieuw Koffie Kamp and system does not contain specific legislation on the mitigation of greenhouse gas Brownsweg; National Zoological Collection of Suriname; Ministry of Natural Resources; Ministry of emissions as yet. However there is a draft environmental law, covering environ- Labor, Technological Development and Environment; General Bureau of Statistics in Suriname; mental pollution in general. National Institute for Environment and Development in Suriname and Tropenbos Suriname. .