REPUBLIC OF SEYCHELLES MINAMATA INITIAL ASSESSMENT REPORT 2016 Document title Minamata Initial Assessment Report 2016 Document short title MIA Report Date 15th Mar 2017 Consultants AAI Enterprise Pty Ltd Lead Consultant, Mr Cliff Gonzalves, and Inventory Team, Ms Janet Dewea, Mrs Shirley Mondon and Ms Elaine Mondon First draft contributions from Mr Dinesh Aggarwal. Second draft contributions from Dr David Evers, Dr David Buck, and Ms Amy Sauer. Acknowledgements We would like to thank everyone who participated in the development of this document, including experts at the UNDP. Cover page photos by Mr. Cliff Gonzalves and the late Mr. Terrence Lafortune. Disclaimer This document does not necessarily represent the official views of the Government of Seychelles, the United Nations Development Programme, the Global Environment Facility, or the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. 2 Table of Contents ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................. 7 Foreword (draft) .................................................................................................... 9 Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 10 I. Results of the national mercury Inventory .............................................................................................. 10 II. Policy, regulatory and institutional assessment .................................................................................... 13 III. The National Implementation Plan for mercury ................................................................................. 14 IV. Data Gaps and recommendations ............................................................................................................ 15 Chapter I - Introduction .......................................................................................... 16 1.1 Minamata Convention on Mercury ............................................................................................................. 16 1.2 The Minamata Initial Assessment (MIA) process ................................................................................. 16 1.3 Seychelles MIA ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter II: Country Profile ..................................................................................... 18 2.1. Geography and population ........................................................................................................................... 18 2.2 Political, legal and economic profile .......................................................................................................... 18 2.3 Profiles of economic sectors ......................................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1 Tourism ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 2.3.2 Fisheries .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 2.3.3 Manufacturing .................................................................................................................................................. 19 2.4 Environmental overview ................................................................................................................................ 20 2.4.1 Policy and Strategy ......................................................................................................................................... 20 2.4.2 Waste management ......................................................................................................................................... 20 Chapter III: Mercury Inventory .............................................................................. 21 3.1 Methodology .................................................................................................................................................. 21 3.2 Summary of mercury releases, stockpiles, supply and trade. ........................................................ 24 3.2.1 Sources of mercury ......................................................................................................................................... 24 3.2.2 Mercury inputs to society ............................................................................................................................. 25 3.2.3 Summary of mercury releases ................................................................................................................ 26 3.2.4 Summary of mercury stockpiles, and supply and trade ................................................................... 28 3.3 Data and inventory on energy consumption and fuel production ................................................ 29 3.3.1 Mineral Oils ................................................................................................................................................. 29 3.3.2 Charcoal Combustion .............................................................................................................................. 30 3.4 Data and inventory on domestic production of metals and raw materials ................................. 31 3.5 Data and inventory on domestic production and processing with intentional mercury use . 31 3.6 Waste handling and recycling .................................................................................................................. 32 3.6.1 Controlled landfills..................................................................................................................................... 32 3.6.2 Informal dumping of general waste ..................................................................................................... 33 3.6.3 Waste incineration and burning ............................................................................................................ 34 3.6.4 Informal waste burning ............................................................................................................................ 35 3.6.5 Wastewater treatment ................................................................................................................................ 36 3.6.6 Test of waste and wastewater default factors .................................................................................. 37 3.7 Data and inventory on general consumption of mercury in products, as metallic mercury and mercury containing substances ................................................................................................................... 38 3.7.1 Thermometers with Mercury .................................................................................................................. 38 3 3.7.2 Electrical Switches and relays ............................................................................................................... 39 3.7.3 Light sources with mercury ..................................................................................................................... 40 3.7.4 Batteries with mercury .............................................................................................................................. 41 3.7.5 Paints with mercury ................................................................................................................................... 44 3.7.6 Cosmetics with mercury ........................................................................................................................... 45 3.7.7 Polyurethane with mercury catalysts .................................................................................................. 47 3.7.8 Dental mercury amalgam fillings ......................................................................................................... 48 3.7.9 Manometers and gauges with mercury ............................................................................................. 49 3.7.10 Laboratory chemicals ............................................................................................................................ 51 3.8 Data and inventory on crematoria and cemeteries ............................................................................. 53 3.8.1 Crematoria ..................................................................................................................................................... 53 3.8.2 Cemeteries ...................................................................................................................................................... 54 3.9 Contaminated sites ...................................................................................................................................... 55 3.10 Impacts of mercury in human health and the environment ........................................................ 56 Chapter IV: Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Framework Assessment ............. 57 4.1 Policy and regulatory assessment............................................................................................................ 57 Article 3 - Mercury supply sources and trade................................................................................................