Guyana: Gold’s imponderables

As far as the use of mercury is concerned, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud is on record as saying that it could be another ten years before mercury can be entirely phased out from the production process. Here, there are several imponderables, including a healthy measure of uncertainty as to exactly where the local industry will be in ten years’ time. Conceivably, prices could slip to a level that might even result in a serious decline in investment in gold mining.
The other possible scenario has to do with the likelihood of an accelerated global focus on higher environmental standards in the production of gold. This would mean that Guyana may well have to adjust its timetable for the phasing out of mercury, or else, face difficulties in terms of access to major external markets.
http://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/business/business-editorials/01/17/golds-imponderables/