The Global Mercury Project (GMP) began in August 2002. The GMP will demonstrate ways of overcoming barriers to the adoption of best practices and pollution prevention measures that limit the mercury (Hg) contamination of international waters from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM). Six countries are participating in the GMP: Brazil, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. In addition, the GMP aims to introduce cleaner technologies, train miners, develop regulatory mechanisms and capacities within Government, conduct environmental and health assessments (E&HA) and build capacity in local laboratories to continue monitoring Hg pollution after the project.



The ultimate goals of the present GEF/UNDP/UNIDO project are:



1) to reduce mercury pollution of international waters by emissions emanating from small-scale gold mining,



2) to introduce cleaner technologies for gold extraction and to train people in their application,



3) to develop capacity and regulatory mechanisms that will enable the sector to minimize mercury pollution,



4) to introduce environmental and health monitoring programmes,



5) to build capacity of local laboratories to assess the extent and impact of mercury pollution.