Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud says Guyana’s gold production for the year so far is 350,000 ounces and this has surpassed the year’s target by 30,000 ounces.
But he said that this is what has been declared, suggesting that the figure could be higher.
The Minister was speaking yesterday at a press conference held at the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment’s offices located at the Office of the President. That press conference concerned the announcement of a new German grant for the continuation of the Guyana Protected Areas Project.
The Minister said that at a recent meeting he had with the members of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association, they expressed concern at the amount of the precious metal that is undeclared. Earlier in the year, Chairman of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission Joe Singh expressed concerns about gold going undeclared. He noted then that there was a lucrative cross-border movement of the metal. Singh said too that illegal mining of gold was leading to smuggling since persons cannot declare gold from an illegal operation. Asked about concerns about small and medium scale miners still using less than environmentally friendly methods of gold recovery, the Minister said that this is something that is being discussed within the industry. “But there has to be a period of transition and we also have to work in supporting particularly the small miners in terms of that transition,” he said.
He said that recovery rates are also an issue within the industry that is inviting attention. “Sometimes you have recovery at 35 percent, 40 percent, and 45 percent recovery rates. Some people are doing well at 60 percent. But we have to look at different techniques, different technology,” he said.
Persaud stated that the issue of mercury will always be a matter that the Ministry will have to continue to engage all local stakeholders on as well as the international community. He said that the cost of the alternatives to mercury might be prohibitive. “Some of the players have brought in the new technology to demonstrate but there is also a high capital cost. It requires engagement and it is something that we are paying serious attention to and it is not something that I would want to rush a particular pronouncement yet on the matter,” the Minister said.
