Barksanem to support Ghana with mining tracking system
Management of Barksanem™ (BSM™) an artisanal small-scale mining and licensing Company has said it has reliable tracking system to support the country to create a secure supply chain through mineral monitoring.
The system the company explained could help curb fraud with on-site recording and digitization of each gram extracted.
Mr. Etienne Atger, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BSM™ disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said the technology could complement Ghana government’s effort toward tracking the volume of minerals being mined and exported by both multinationals and small-scale miners.
“We have extensive knowledge about the continent and in particular of the West Africa region, relating to small-scale mining, skills in small-scale mining management and in sustainable development.
“BSM™ implemented best practices, in the environment, land management such as arable-reforestation, sustainable agriculture, water saving and family gardens, all in efforts to restore biodiversity,” he said.
According to the to the BSM™ CEO, the digitization also enhances the safety of artisanal miners by offering transaction management mobile applications, replacing cash-based systems.
“BSM™ deploys innovative technologies for the tracking of precious minerals while participating in the self-sufficiency of micro-collectivises. Our approach to monetization turns the production of minerals into a digital currency compatible with a portfolio of new services.
“Obtaining optimal valorisation for the entire production chain by digitizing, tracking and securing the supply chain, this digital currency reduces the cost of transactions by monetizing universal and natural resources.
Asked about how BSM™ could help address some of the of indiscriminate mining, Mr Atger said, the registration of miners on BSM™ sites, that created a higher level of visibility and grant access to information, had proven to be successful and could partially help address that problem.
Until the introduction of the registration technology, he said, authorities continued to experience difficulty to know the population in the sector due to its mobility and its fragility.
He said the initiative when replicated in Ghana, would help formalise the artisanal mining sector and make the population involved noticeable so that the mining sector could contribute significantly to the economy.
Mr Atger hinted that for the purposes of integrated specific know-how, the company had recently formed new partnerships with specialists in water treatment as well as energy to ensure sustainability at all pits.
The CEO noted that it was the company’s ambition to contribute to the improvement of the mining practices, adding that, BSM™ would continue to develop innovations to make mining a blessing to all countries.
Source: GNA