This is a guest blog authored by Lilian Kagai Mugalla, a Graduate Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering student from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology who accompanies The Impact Facility’s Lead Mining Engineer, Cyrus Maina Njonde, to a field trip to the artisanal and small-scale gold mine sites of Osiri Matanda, Migori Country, for mercury retort training. 

Not everyone gets the chance to have a mentor, let alone one who walks with you through the realities of your career. I was fortunate to have this privilege.

Two weeks ago, I had the incredible opportunity to join Eng. Cyrus from The Impact Facility on one of his routine field visits. Having just completed my undergraduate studies, I was back in my gold-mining town with my parents when I learned that Eng. Cyrus would be in the field for two important missions: a power auditing assessment and training on using a modern mercury retort. Without hesitation, I requested to accompany him; I know that every moment in the field is a chance to expand my knowledge and put my problem-solving skills to the test.

Nothing excites me more than gearing up for fieldwork. Something about putting on a reflector vest and a helmet fills me with confidence. It’s a reminder that I am part of something bigger, contributing to real-world solutions in mining.

The first thing that caught my attention on our first day of the power auditing exercise was the huge electrical bills that gold miners pay each month compared to what we use at home or what I experienced during my college days. Another major challenge that disrupts their daily work is frequent power outages. At least 70% of artisanal mining machinery depends on electricity, yet constant blackouts bring operations to a standstill, leaving miners stranded.

A common complaint among miners was the fluctuation in their monthly electricity bills, even when their operations remained steady. This unpredictability makes it difficult for them to plan their expenses, sometimes forcing them to halt operations due to sudden spikes in power costs. The miners have struggled to find explanations, especially since their meters—smart or remote metering systems – are installed high on power lines, making them inaccessible. They can only wait for the electric bill to arrive on their phones, a system they find inconvenient and a financial burden they cannot escape.

In artisanal mining operations, electricity is not just for lighting, it is essential for pumping water out of shafts to prevent flooding, powering hoist machines that pull ore rocks from over 100 feet below to the surface, and keeping critical operations running, such as air blowers that supply oxygen in the shafts. Without a reliable power supply, entire mining sites come to a standstill, leaving miners without work and communities without income.

During this exercise, the miners learned that their electrical wiring and layout contributed significantly to power loss. The power expert, Moses Habimana, emphasised the need to install essential motor guards to protect their costly machines. He also explained the importance of ensuring they were using the correct mining operations tariffs, which allow heavy power users, such as mining and industrial operations, to run on a system that matches their capacity.

It was eye-opening to witness these challenges firsthand. Eng. Cyrus and Moses Habimana took the time to assess the situation, explaining how unstable electricity affects gold processing—from operating essential machinery to ensuring underground safety. Seeing these issues up close made me realise how important it is to advocate for better infrastructure and policies that support small-scale miners.

For many artisanal miners, mercury is an unavoidable part of their gold extraction process, but its toxic effects pose significant risks to their health and the environment. Mercury is used in the final stage of gold processing as it chemically binds with gold to form an amalgam. This stage poses risks of ingestion, mercury entering the bloodstream through open wounds, and inhalation during the roasting process, which helps to free excess mercury into the air, leaving behind a gold sponge that is ready for sell.

The Impact Facility has been sensitising miners on the need to use mercury retorts. In the previous design rolled out in 2021, there was a need to redesign the retort to make it more user-friendly. One key improvement was ensuring that the amalgam remained visible during the burning process. Many miners were uncomfortable with the previous opaque design, fearing that their gold might get lost or mysteriously diminish in size.

Mercury retorts help burn amalgam safely while capturing mercury vapour for reuse, reducing both human and environmental exposure. I had the opportunity to train the miners, especially since women are often associated with mercury burning. They were happy that I was able to personally train them on how to use this new technology.

Standing before the miners, I felt a deep sense of responsibility, not just to sensitise them but to ensure they truly understood how this technology could protect them. I broke down the process step by step, demonstrating how the retort works, how to use it correctly, and the importance of adopting safer practices.

One of the miners volunteered her amalgam for the demonstration. The redesign ensured that the mercury retort resembled their usual Jiko – a type of portable charcoal or wood-burning stove – using charcoal as the heat source but incorporating pyrex glass, known for its high thermal resistance and ability to withstand extreme temperature changes. The amalgam was heated inside the glass chamber, which had a connection pipe for mercury recovery once it reached 356°C. The system also used a thermocouple to read real-time temperature changes inside the pyrex chamber.

The women’s processing group was eager to learn. Some had never used a retort before, while others had misconceptions about its effectiveness. I could see their perspectives shifting as I answered their questions and addressed their concerns. They wanted to protect themselves, their families, and their environment but needed access to the right tools and information.

One of the most valuable lessons I learned from Eng. Cyrus was about task scheduling. Before heading to the minefield, he had already shared the itinerary with me, detailing what would happen in the mines, when, how, and with whom. I quickly understood that in mining, time is critical. Knowing how to plan work efficiently is essential to achieving everything within a set timeline. I also realised that fieldwork requires critical thinking, especially when things don’t go as planned. Unexpected challenges arise, and you must think on your feet to come up with quick solutions. Watching him work, I saw the importance of being adaptable and decisive, skills that apply to every industry.

But beyond the technical lessons, what stood out most was how much he believed in me. He entrusted me with something truly impactful: training artisanal gold miners on the use of an improved mercury retort sourced by The Impact Facility.

For me, training the miners wasn’t just about sharing knowledge; it was also about learning from them. Each interaction opened my eyes to their lived experiences, resilience, and ingenuity in making the best out of limited resources. The exchange of ideas was both humbling and inspiring, reminding me that in every learning experience, knowledge flows both ways.

This field visit left me with more than just technical insights; it was a lesson in leadership, adaptability, and the importance of believing in yourself and others. I walked away, knowing that every opportunity to step into the field was a chance to make an impact, learn something new, and grow into a better version of myself.