EMSAGS Project Supports the Gold Sector Regulation Commission (OGS) in the Registration of Small-Scale Gold Miners
On Friday, 11 September 2026, equipment, including drones and printers, was handed over to the Gold Sector Regulation Commission (OGS) to support the registration of small-scale gold miners in Brokopondo and the area along the Saramacca River.
The handover forms part of the Pilot Project for Registration of Small-Scale Gold Miners in Brokopondo District and the Saramacca River Area. Through the use of drones, printers and registration materials, the project aims to generate reliable data on Suriname’s small-scale gold mining sector. The registration project is intended not only to provide insight into the number of active small-scale gold miners and the locations of mining activities, but also to provide OGS with practical experience for the implementation of a nationwide registration system.
Activities under the project commenced in June 2026 and are financed by the EMSAGS Project. The drones play an important role in mapping and monitoring mining areas, while the printers and other registration equipment support the recording and processing of data and the production of registration badges. In addition to drones and printers, EMSAGS is financing field equipment for staff, vehicles and the necessary ICT equipment to support the registration teams in carrying out their work. The total value of EMSAGS Project support for the registration activities exceeds USD 400,000.
During the handover, the importance of reliable data for policymaking and management of the sector was emphasized. “Measuring is knowing. When we have reliable data, we are better able to determine who is active, where activities are taking place, and what support and measures are needed”, said Preciosa Simons, Director of Mining at the Ministry of Natural Resources. She emphasized that the work must continue beyond the completion of the EMSAGS Project to further support the sustainable development of the small-scale gold mining sector.
For OGS, the handover represents a further strengthening of its operational capacity. “The equipment makes it easier for our teams to carry out their work in the field and to further improve registration and data collection,” said Wilson Balansi, General Manager of OGS. Staff members have also been trained in the use of drones. Seven drone pilots are now available to operate the equipment during field activities.
The activities initially focus on Brokopondo and the area along the Saramacca River. The intention is that the experience, equipment and capacity developed through this pilot will subsequently be used for registration activities in other areas, including Sarakreek, Sipaliwini, the Tapanahony River and the Lawa River. In this way, the investment will continue to contribute to the formalization, monitoring and sustainable development of the small-scale gold mining sector even after the EMSAGS Project has ended.
This is aligned with the objective of EMSAGS to strengthen the sustainable monitoring of the small-scale gold mining sector and promote the use of environmentally responsible mining technologies.
