Aurora Gold Project in Region 7 progressing rapidly –pouring of first gold bar slated for mid-2015

WORK at Guyana Goldfield Inc. Aurora Gold Project in Region 7 (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) is progressing rapidly to ensure that the pouring of their first gold bar is done in mid-2015. 

According to a release from AGM Inc., Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment for Guyana, Mr Robert Persaud stated, “This level of investment from a large scale mining operation is important to the growth and development of the Guyanese economy.”
The Government of Guyana, it stated, through the Ministry of Natural Resources has been working with Guyana Goldfields to ensure that their undertaking is realized, and will continue to work with the company throughout the lifetime of this project.
The benefits for Guyana from this project such as local employment, contribution to national wealth, training and community development cannot be over emphasized, the release said.
Additionally, Guyana’s level of gold declaration is expected to double with the anticipated output from the “Aurora Project”.

One of the machines that will be used when operations commence (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

SITE TOUR
During a private tour of the project site last Saturday, General Manager of Operations Vic Rozon stated that they have made an investment of approximately US$400 million into this project.
He also noted that when operations commence next year they will start at an open pit mining production of 5,000 tonnes per day and they intend to expand their production to 10,000 tonnes per day within five years of operations.
He stated that as they progress, they will move from an open pit mining to underground mining which will be the first ever underground mining to be done in Guyana.
Rozon added that as they estimated, the mine will have a life span of approximately 17 years (2015-2031), and in that time they will work towards developing Guyana’s economy.

ACQUIRED EXPERTISE
The GM of Operations stated that they have acquired the necessary expertise to work on the construction of the project in order to ensure completion by mid-2015.
Rozon noted that they have the largest construction team from Peru called Gym who has partnered with another construction team from Australia called SEDGMAN to formulate a Gym and SEDGMAN Joint Venture (GSJV) to ensure that the works done on the site are up to standard.

500 WORKERS
He stated that approximately 500 employees are working on this project and although the construction teams are foreign bodies, approximately 95% of their employees are Guyanese who AGM has trained and certified themselves.
He added that as the works progress they will seek to increase their manpower by having approximately 750-800 persons working on the site.
Rozon said that recently they have expanded their camp which can now house up to a 900-man camp and includes a fully functioning kitchen and cafeteria, medical center, recreation room and offices.
They have also set in place translators to ensure that communication among workers is not an issue because of the language differences among them.

RIVER PORT
He added that the Buckhall Wharf has been developed into a river port which is used by the company for transporting equipment from and onto the site.

An aerial view of the Aurora Gold Project Site.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
He noted that as work on the site progresses safety of the employees must be taken into consideration, therefore they have stringent measures in place to ensure that no worker is injured on the job.
Rozon added that safety is their number one priority on the site and they have a special wear which they call their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that they use as a uniform on the site to ensure that persons are well protected.
He stated that they also have a safety training programme, which is carried out by persons from AGM and also the GSJV.
He noted that they also have speed limits for the routes which the vehicles within the site take and they have made an agreement with Roraima Airways to ensure immediate air transport in the event of someone being injured.
ENVIRONMENTAL PLAN
Rozon stated that the company will adhere to every environmental legislation and regulations that Guyana has.
He noted that as they proceed with land clearing they will also engage in reclamation to ensure that the riches of the environment will also get back to its natural form.
He said that they have also implemented a voluntary “Cyanide Management Code” that aims to assist in the protection of human health and reduce environmental impacts through implementation of best practices for cyanide management and verification through third party audits.
Guyana Goldfields Inc. is a Canada-based mineral exploration company which primarily focuses on the exploration and development of gold deposits in Guyana.
The company is currently constructing its 100%-owned and fully permitted Aurora Gold Project,
Additionally, the company holds advanced exploration projects and has been operating in Guyana since 1996.