Natural Resources Ministry – doing well after first year
The decision to establish the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment was made to better manage the growing natural resources sector and consolidate its management under one umbrella body. Headed by Minister Robert Persaud, the Ministry has responsibilities for forestry, mining, environmental management, wildlife, protected areas, land use planning and coordination, and climate change.
President Donald Ramotar and Minister Robert Persaud addressing residents of the Mahdia mining community
The first task at hand for the new ministry has been series of meetings in various regions with top officials of its several sub agencies. The meetings were part of outreach programmes by the Government to have all stakeholders integrally involved in the development of the natural resources industry.
Land
Among issues addressed 2012 was the availability of land for mining, particularly for small miners, and this was addressed via a position paper by the ministry. The move was done to ensure that small miners no longer got into conflict with large scale miners over the availability of land in mineral rich areas. A lottery system was introduced through the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Areas such as Aurora, Aranka, Dukwarri Cuyuni, Konawaruk, Blackwater, Port Kaituma, Arakaka, Omai, Quartz Hill and Frenchman were just a few of those targeted during 2012 for outreaches.
The requirements and application for the lottery are now in full circulation so that miners could knowledgeable about the availability of lands. This was just one of the measures put into place to ensure a somewhat level playing field in the gold mining sector.
Gold
Gold production recorded more than 400,000 ounces with more than US$700 M going to the national coffers. This record setting revenue was also fuelled by increasingly high prices for minerals, internationally. The ministry has noted that this increase in mining has had spinoff effects in other areas some positive and negative.
These factors have not been lost on ministry officials who are actively engaging other stakeholders to address issues such crime, environmental pollution and smuggling. Notwithstanding this, the ministry is aiming to balance the gains made by the sector with the need to adequately protect the environment. Issues such as the phasing out of mercury usage, wildcat mining and unsafe mining practices are actively being looked at, and measures continue to be put in place to address these issues.
Regulating the gold sector
As part of efforts to regulate the sector, the NRE in Apri1 2012, embarked on a campaign “Operation El Dorado” to stop illegal mining and related activities in the Puruni area, Region 7. The operation involved inspection of mining camps and operations to determine the status of the property being worked, verification of mining privileges and certificate of registration for persons employed, inspection of the requisite documentation, including dredge licences and production books, sanitation, environmental and occupational health and safety compliance. Also, the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s), Tactical Services Unit team checked for guns, ammunition and drugs, while an immigration team checked the status of foreign workers.
Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Officials and Police officers checking miners’ documentation
The operation resulted in the detention of 94 foreign miners who were in breach of the mining, environment and/or immigration laws. In most cases, these workers had no work-permits, no certificate of registration and in some cases, expired visas. In addition, 32 local miners breached the mining regulations. Two river based operations breached the ‘Cease Work’ order and continued working the river banks which is prohibited according to the mining regulations, while gold production records were incomplete and in some cases non-existent.
Illegal and undocumented foreign miners being taken into custody
Mining on prospecting Permit and Prospecting Licence property occurred contrary to the regulations. The operation also found mining on the prohibited river bank buffer zones, while the Guyana Police Force discovered an illegal firearm. A quantity of raw gold that was illegally obtained was seized. This operation was the first of several conducted and these exercises will continue to bring some order to the sector.
Bauxite production
In 2012, bauxite production improved significantly, from 1,827,555 metric tonnes in 2011 to 2,034,811 metric tonnes at the end of November 2012, an overall improvement of 25.7 percent relative to the 1,618,483 produced in the period January to November 2011.
Bauxite production
The Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc. produced 1,416, 287 metric tonnes of bauxite in the period January to November 2012, 5.9 % more than that which was produced for the whole of 2011 (1,337,057 metric tonnes).
Minister Robert Persaud meeting RUSAL officials during site tour
Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc. (BMGGI) produced 618,524 metric tonnes between January to November 2012, 26% more than for the whole of 2011 (490,498 metric tonnes). Bosai announced that it will invest close to US$100M to expand its operations in 2013.
Commercial banks
The banks, which play a key role in financing operations in the sector, are being engaged to ascertain better ways in which their facilities can be utilised particularly with regards to new, emergent technologies. Closer cooperation with the Guyana Police Force continues as some seek to make their fortunes through criminal means.
Mining school
To further build capacity in the mining sector, a Mining School will be established at the Linden Technical Institute and Bartica with assistance from the Canadian Government. The defunct facilities at Omai are being used to enhance the practical aspect of training.
Stakeholders at the launch of the Mining School
”We want to start training our miners in way so that they can better perform their activities in an environmentally friendly way,” Minister Persaud stated.
Roads
The establishment of a roads committee was also done to oversee GGMC’s annual efforts at upgrading and supporting infrastructure developments within mining communities.
“This committee was established to ensure that the works we do are substantial, that we are responsive when there is work to be done and that we get quality work for the money invested,” Minister pointed out.
Government, he said is committed as much as possible to supporting development and infrastructural works within mining areas since, “it is our interest in making mining communities more viable, and having life after gold”. The minister added that the perception of mining communities as being haphazard areas must change. “So we will be working with other agencies to bring better organisational structures…so that miners and the mining communities get their due respect,” Minister Persaud said.
Forestry
The forestry sector is being managed by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and guided by a National Forest Plan that provides the framework within which identified programmes and activities are implemented in a manner that ensures cohesion with the National Forest Policy, and compliance with the laws that govern the forest estate and its use.
The National Forest Plan is divided into 11 programmes which follow the key areas of action identified in the National Forest Policy Statement. Policy issues are discussed in the following sections of this document which describes the programmatic areas, objectives, and activities for their execution.
It was through the inputs garnered by this plan that Barama Company Limited (BCL) has secured the largest single block of tropical forest to be certified under the Verified Legal Origin (VLO) anywhere in the world. The VLO is an international scheme which verifies that timber comes from a source that the harvester has a documented legal right to harvest, pursuant to the laws and regulations of the government of the jurisdiction.
Suppliers of VLO timber must follow and maintain documented chain-of-custody systems. Head of Forest Planning and Corporate Affairs Mohindra Chand noted that given the priority focus on the circulation of illegal timber primarily in the western world the VLO certification works to allay many of the fears customers may have.
BCL is the largest company in the forestry sector with 1.6 million hectares in forest concession under its control. The VLO certification was carried out by Rainforest Alliance of the United States of America. This achievement adds to the value the local forestry sector which saw the value of its various products increase even though exports declined over-all.
2013 PLANS
Gold Board
The Guyana Gold Board (GGB) is aiming to trade 310, 000 ounces of a target of 400,000 ounces declaration for 2013. Interest in the establishment of a Gold Refinery in Guyana is expected to receive more policy guidelines on the way forward in 2013.
The GGB will ensure all the activities are done within the mandate and guidelines of the Guyana Gold Board Act.
GFC
The strategic plan for 2013 has been prepared based on the priorities that are required to develop the sector in terms of contribution to national development, investment, employment, capacity building, production and export; revised National Forest Plan and Policy and International Obligations and Low Carbon Development Strategy including REDD+ framework.
Among its aims are to: increase/enhance local added value activities, stimulate greater foreign and local investment in the sector by improving production, productivity and export of forest produce, encourage and monitor investments from existing stakeholders, increase direct and indirect employment, increase community access, promote sustainable management of forestry resources, and promote and maintain sustainable management, forest monitoring, forest legality, and reduced impact logging.
Environment
The issue of the environment has also been on the fore-front of the NRE’s agenda, in addition to mining areas being targeted through meetings with stakeholders, a “Pick It Up” campaign was initiated. Launched on World Environment Day as a series of community enhancement exercises, it is aimed at getting more persons to assist in cleaning their surroundings. The first clean up exercise commenced at the National Park in Georgetown.
“Pick It Up” campaign participants
Similar exercises were undertaken in Mahdia and expanded to Port Kaituma and other mining communities. The exercise in Mahdia saw the placement of 30 bins, cleaning of drains and creeks and the installation of public awareness sign boards. This campaign is being sustained by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Protected areas
Under the Protected Areas Act, existing and new state-owned protected areas, Amerindian protected areas, privately managed protected areas, and Urban Parks such as the Botanical Gardens and the Zoological Park are managed by the Protected Areas System.
The National Parks Commission (NPC) continued to deliver results by recording growth in revenue over that of previous years. The NPC improved its overall performance by recording an increase in revenue generation in excess of a projected $48M target. Increase in revenue was attributed to increase in visitation to the Kaieteur National Park; and to the Zoological Park.
Rehabilitated Play Land in National Park
Over the past year successful work has been done on infrastructural development, land reclamation, and many other areas that serve to enhance the facilities of the NPC. The Commission’s allocations of both capital and recurrent, complemented each other and allowed for improved works in infrastructure, drainage and irrigation, land transport towards the enhancement of the Parks.
The NPC undertook several projects for 2012, including: Snake Exhibit was re-designed to emulate natural environment, improving “primitive bars and concrete” looks of the Zoological Park, installation of CCTV cameras, parameter beams and motion lights, restoring the functionality of the walk in freezer for improved storage capacity, expanding services offered by the nursery; increasing production of potting soil, flowering and ornamental, fruit and vegetable plants, improving revetment of the manatee ponds and habitat of the manatees, Safe Parks Security Initiative, and rehabilitating Play Land in the National Park
Launch of “Safe Parks” initiative
GGMC
The GGMC will continue geological mapping, geophysical and geochemical surveys, and mineral resource assessment, and providing technical assistance to small and medium scale miners in terms of prospecting, data evaluation and property assessment.
It will promote and support increased petroleum exploration and development locally and internationally, revise and support policy development and implementation for mineral and petroleum sector, promote, monitor and enforce good practices to achieve minimal levels of pollution of soil and water resources, reduce mine accidents, and comply with established standards and regulations, and implement an aggressive plan to eradicate illegal mining.
It will develop a comprehensive education and awareness programme for the sector. This will include promotion of mercury free alternatives, best technical practices for mining and environmental issues and on the Mining Act and Regulations among others.
