ARTICLE 7
SMALL-SCALE MINING
1. Member States agree to promote policies that will encourage and assist small-scale
mining in the Region.
2. Member States shall facilitate the development of small-scale mining through, amongst
others, the provision of technical extension services, establishment of marketing facilities
including exhibitions and establishment of mineral exchanges.
3. Member States shall encourage the provision of training, institutional and financial
support for the small-scale mining sector in the Region.
ARTICLE 8
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
1. Member States shall promote sustainable development by ensuring that a balance
between mineral development and environmental protection is attained.
2. Member States shall encourage a regional approach in conducting environmental
impact assessments especially in relation to shared systems and cross border
environmental effects.
3. Member States shall collaborate in the development of programmes to train
environmental scientists in fields related to the mining sector.
4. Member States undertake to share information on environmental protection and
environmental rehabilitation.
ARTICLE 9
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
1. Member States agree to cooperate in improving the practices and standards of
occupational health and safety in the Region's mining sector.
2. Member States agree to encourage the sharing of training and any promotional
facilities related to occupational health and mining safety in the Region.
ARTICLE 10
INSTITUTIONAL ORGANISATION
1. The organisational structure shall comprise the following organs:
(a) The Committee of Mining Ministers;
(b) The Mining Technical Committee of Officials;
(c) The Mining Coordinating Unit.
2 The Committee of Mining Ministers
(a) The Committee of Mining Ministers shall consist of one Minister responsible for mining