The long-awaited revised mining bill is being put to Ecuador’s National Assembly where lawmakers will debate proposed amendments to existing legislation.
These include proposals to encourage investment in the country’s mining industry, improved transparency and practices that protect the environment.
Under the changes, the equipment used by small or informal miners would be regulated and they would be banned from using mercury to mine gold for two years.
The use of mercury and cyanide by small and artisanal miners as part of gold processing has long been blamed for water contamination, causing health problems.
According to a report published by the United Nations Environment Programme in June 2012, Ecuador has around 1,349 artisanal operations of which 1,069 are gold operations.
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