The Chinese company Bosia Minerals has disclosed that it is currently engaged in studies at Linden that will lead to the installation of an efficient dust collection system at the company’s Linden bauxite-mining operations.
Personnel and Industrial Relations Superintendent Peter Benny told Stabroek Business earlier this week that the installation of an effective dust collection system has now become “a priority” in the light of Bosai’s plans to significantly increase its production next year.
Benny told Stabroek Business that the scale of Bosai’s anticipated production increase would mean that during next year two kilns and a drier will be operating simultaneously.
“This has not been the case here in Linden for some time and what the increased production means is that we can anticipate higher levels of dust emission.”
According to Benny the company’s focus on production will not detract from its commitment to minimizing the environmental effects of its operations.
He said that the new dust emission system was likely to be put in place by the end of 2009.
Bosai has already engaged various experts, including Chinese officials, to pursue the dust emission studies that will lead to the implementation of the new system.
Meanwhile, according to Benny, Bosai will be taking short-term measures to reduce the volume of dust emission by increasing the height of the stacks that emit dust during the production process.
Benny said that Bosai officials have already met with stakeholders in the Linden community to make them aware of the situation and that the company will be undertaking a medical outreach programme in the areas most affected by dust emission to address the health-related considerations associated with dust emission.
