recover it or the useful substances contained therein through manual and traditional methods and processes without any requirement of preliminary proof of a deposit. 554. The semi-mechanized mineral exploitation is to extract and put together mineral substances and recover the products thereof by using semi-mechanized methods without any preliminary requirement of proof of a deposit. The authorization for tailings heaps, slag heaps and mining and quarry waste is to treat and derive value from the rejected and waste materials and residue from mining operations. The processes, methods, equipment and tools that could be used for the semi-mechanized small-scale mining and the slag heaps, tailing impoundments and mining and quarry residue are specified by regulatory mechanisms. 555. Decree No. 2017-628/PRN/MM of 20 July 2017, amended and supplemented Decree No. 2006265/PRN/MME of 18 August 2006, determining the modalities for the implementation of the mining law. According to Article 40 (new) “Shall be allowed to carry out semi-mechanized small-scale mining activities of slag heaps, tailing impoundments and mining and quarry residue:  For small-scale mining operations - Any natural person of Nigerien nationality or citizen of any country that grants reciprocity to Nigerien citizens in this sector of activity and must be at least eighteen (18) years of age;  For semi-mechanized mineral exploitation of slag heaps, tailing impoundments and mining and quarry residue - Any corporate entity under Nigerien law with total or part capital holdings by one or several Nigerien citizens”. 556. A preliminary study on the small-scale mining sector of Niger was conducted in January 2019. The objective of this study requested for by the government was to supply updated information on the Small-scale Mining Sector (EMAPE), and to improve the understanding of the socio-economic, environmental and humanitarian issues relating to small-scale mining since there is lack of information and data available to date. This study is aimed at analyzing, assessing and improving the understanding of the following aspects: - The current legal and institutional framework governing the EMAPE sector in Niger; - The role of stakeholders of the small-scale mining sector in Niger and the role and impact of State and non-State interventions; - The EMAPE value chain and its contribution to the Nigerien economy; - The organization of the EMAPE sector and gold mining operations, the technical methods for prospection, extraction, transportation and processing of gold; - The characteristics and profiles of the small-scale miners and workers and other stakeholders in the small-scale mining value chain; - The scope and the production capacity of the gold mining sector; - The direct and indirect impact of the activities on the environment, health and security at the site and surrounding mining communities; - The way and manner the current situation is contributing to and minimizing the risk of conflict. 557. The Ministry of Mines through its Directorate of Small-scale Mining and Quarrying (DEMPEC), organized a workshop in Bangoula in June 2019 on the supervision and management of the small-scale mining and small mines sector that brought together all the stakeholders operating in the sector. It also organized a fact-finding and multi-stakeholder sensitization mission in February 2019 with the assistance of the Competitiveness and Growth Support Project of the Komabangou small-scale mining site. The sensitization sessions were held several times at the Komabangou small-scale mining site. On the average, there were twenty (20) persons at these sessions. 112