(Ecofin Agency) - In Senegal, artisanal gold mining produces several tonnes of gold each year and provides thousands of jobs. Concentrated in the Kédougou region along the Falémé River, this activity has significant environmental and health impacts.

Senegalese authorities have banned mining along the Falélmé River until June 30, 2027. Disclosed on August 27, the move aims to protect the river from pollution by chemicals, such as mercury and cyanide, which artisanal miners use to process ore and extract gold.

Artisanal miners also clear trees to create space for mining and use machines to dredge the river, harming fish populations and releasing hydrocarbons into the water. This led President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to sign a decree banning mining activities within a 500-meter radius of the river's left bank and suspending new mining titles.

According to a 2018 study, artisanal gold production in Senegal exceeds 4 tonnes per year and employs tens of thousands of people. The activity is primarily in the Kédougou region, where the Falémé River flows. While the ban is necessary for environmental and health reasons, it may reduce the livelihoods of gold miners, presenting a challenge for the Senegalese government to implement mitigation measures.