WEBINAR - Mercury from Non-Ferrous Metals Mining and Smelting: current knowledge and tools towards sustainable practices

The Global Mercury Partnership organised a webinar on Mercury from Non-Ferrous Metals Mining and Smelting: current knowledge and tools towards sustainable practices, on Thursday 21 March 2024.

The non-ferrous sector is a large anthropogenic source of mercury emissions estimated to account for more than 300 tonnes per year - around 10-15 percent - of global mercury emissions to the atmosphere, the third largest source. Mercury present in non-ferrous metal ores can potentially be released to the environment during the extraction and smelting of these non-ferrous metals. For this reason, this sector is considered by the Minamata Convention as a point source category for emissions and discharges of mercury to the environment.

The 2022 Global Mercury Partnership Technical Study report on Mercury from the Non-ferrous Metals Mining and Smelting is an entry point to further understand mercury behavior in the sector. The report analyses the fate of mercury within commercial smelters and refiners in the copper, lead, zinc and industrial gold sector, gathering current knowledge on estimates of mercury emissions and releases resulting from extraction and smelting, as well as existing technologies for controlling them and resulting mercury wastes. The report also presents case studies and recommendations for future work, including with respect to capacity development.

As a follow-up to the study report, and discussions during last meetings of the Partnership Advisory Group, this session provided a platform for further exchange of information, awareness raising and discussion on best practices in managing mercury emissions, releases and waste in the sector. The event featured latest developments in the context of the Minamata Convention, feedback from countries on their national contexts, ongoing efforts, challenges and needs as well as practical experiences in managing mercury in the industry.

Agenda

The event was facilitated by Kenneth Davis, Global Mercury Partnership, and Misuzu Asari, Co-lead of the Waste Management Area  

Opening remarks, by Rodges Ankrah, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Co-Chair of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership Advisory Group (1:00 pm – 1:05 pm)

Study report on mercury from non-ferrous metals mining and smelting, Peter Nelson, Macquarie University, Co-lead of the Partnership Area on Mercury Releases from Coal Combustion (1:05 pm – 1:20 pm)  

Latest Developments in the context of the Minamata Convention, Eisaku Toda, Secretariat of the Minamata Convention (1:20 pm – 1:35 pm)

Mercury Management in Zinc Smelting, Mic Gilles, International Zinc Association (1:35 pm – 1:50 pm)

Questions and answers

Environmentally sound management of mercury from the mining and smelting of non-ferrous metals in Argentina, Marisol Diaz Rivera, Ministry of Interior, Argentina (2:05 pm – 2:20 pm)  

Treatment of mercury wastes and stabilization of mercury from the non-ferrous metal industry, David Hunter, BATREC Industrie AG (2:20 pm – 2:35 pm)

Treating mercury waste from non-ferrous metals mining and smelting: best available treatment technologies and mercury conversion as the safest option for final disposal, Xavier Ibarz, Econ Industries (2:35 pm – 2:50 pm)

Questions and Answers

Next steps and closing remarks, by Rodges Ankrah, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Co-Chair of the UNEP Global Mercury Partnership Advisory Group (2:50 pm – 3:00 pm)