Summary of "يعثر عليها المنقبون بدون عناء.. منقب موريتاني يلتقط قطع الذهب من صحارى أرض الشمال الغربي الموريتاني"

Gold Prospecting Boom in Northwestern Mauritania

The video reports on a recent surge in gold prospecting in the deserts of northwestern Mauritania. Traditionally inhabited by Bedouins who focused on water and pasture, this region has seen a dramatic shift due to the discovery of surface and underground gold deposits. Thousands of Mauritanians have been drawn to the area, many using simple portable devices to collect small gold pieces scattered in the sands.

Key Areas and Activities

Prospecting initially centered around the Tasiast region, where a Canadian company has been mining gold for over a decade.
Many prospectors work informally, manually searching for gold with modest results.
A prospector from eastern Mauritania shared that monthly gold finds vary irregularly, ranging from a few grams up to about 30 grams.

Government and Economic Impact

Despite the informal nature of this manual mining, the Mauritanian government recognizes its value and licenses citizens to mine gold. However, exact production figures remain unclear.

According to the Ministry of Oil and Mines:
- Traditional miners sold about five tons of gold in the first eight months of 2020.
- This amount represents roughly one-third of the output of major mining companies.
- Mining revenues and added value reached approximately $106.76 million in the previous year.

Economic experts warn that a significant portion of gold is smuggled out of the country, resulting in lost revenue for Mauritania.

Dangerous Working Conditions

The report highlights the hazardous conditions in artisanal mining areas, known locally as “mining pits,” where prospectors dig dangerous trenches.

Since 2017, numerous fatal accidents have occurred, including:
- Well collapses
- Traffic accidents on unsafe roads
By early 2021, there were at least 94 deaths and 162 injuries related to these mining activities.
The Mohamed Salem pit, near the Canadian Tasiast mine, is particularly notorious, with 12 deaths in January 2021 alone.
The video footage shows overcrowded pits with miners working in close proximity, lacking safety measures or emergency services.
The site was guarded by national security forces, and reporters were asked to leave.