Excavator operators in the small-scale mining sector have received training on safe and efficient practices for a sustainable industry.

Under the training, the operators, mostly from the Ashanti and Western regions, are expected to understand the soil layers and sustainable practices of excavation.

Excavators are modern equipment in small-scale mining for digging in gold exploration.

Due to their limited training, some operators often work with less accuracy, leading to over-digging.

This has often contributed to the destruction of land and increase in carbon emissions.

Country Manager for PL International Holdings Gold Coast Limited, Pravin Garle, explains, “Everybody has a different way of operating machines. They end up learning things from others which may not be the right practice.”

He emphasized, “It is important for them to know the right practices and how they can enhance the performance of the machines.”

The technical training for the excavator operators was organised by construction machinery makers, Kobelco, and their partners, PL International, through Warnabaid Ventures.

Public Relations Officer for Warnabaid Ventures, Ernest Dabo says, “we decided to collaborate with Kobelco who have machinery which are fuel efficient and of high quality, if we are able to promote it and make sure that we teach operators how to excavate properly, the miners will rake in more and not go to the extent of destroying more natural resources.”

Mining remains important to the Ghanaian economy, but it has dire consequences on the environment when done irresponsibly.

Already, the government has intensified its fight against illegal mining, an attempt to reduce its negative impacts on the environment.

President of the Concerned Small Scale Mining Association, Michael Kwadwo Peprah, explains the need for sector players to join hands in ensuring sustainable mining.

“We all have to come together to promote sustainable operations, we have to ensure we mine with the protection of the environment in mind, so initiative like this one has to be promoted”, he added.