CIBJO Congress session - Reassessing the role of artisanal mining, Sep. 5, 2026

Some 45 to 50 million people are estimated to work directly in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) worldwide, more than six time the amount of people involved in industrial mining, and many times more people on depending on artisanal mining for their overall livelihood. But is also a sector that carries substantial risk, both physical and economic, and the stakes are very high. The closing session of day 2 of the CIBJO Centenary Congress on September 5, 2026, looked at the changing attitude of the jewellery industry to artisanal mining, and the efforts being made to incorporate its members and production into the legitimate supply chains. Moderated by Edward Johnson, Corporate Responsibility Director of Gemfields, the panellists included Feriel Zerouki, Honorary President, World Diamond Council, and former head of De Beers’ GemFair project; Greg Valerio of Peace Gold; James McQuilken, recently of Pact; Elizabeth Arnott, Head of Sustainability at Mwamba Mining; and Norbert Massay, Project Manager at Pact Tanzania.