Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGG) last Friday commissioned the new dust collector unit it installed at the bauxite mining plant in June.
BMGG invited Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud, Chinese Ambassador to Guyana Yu Wenzhe, Region Ten Chairman Kuice Sharma Solomon, IMC Chairman Orrin Gordon and PNCR Chairman Basil Williams, who represented APNU and Opposition Leader David Granger, and other stakeholders to mark the investment with a tour of the Bosai Bauxite Plant and a celebratory dinner at the Watooka Club. The invitees also included Head of the Privatisation Unit and NICIL Winston Brassington, CEO of the Linmine Secretariat Horace James, former Region Ten chairman Mortimer Mingo and representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency. At the commissioning, Bosai’s plans for investment of over $100M this year and for the creation of over 500 jobs were restated, while plans to train 150 apprentices this year were announced.
However, the event was not without incident as placard-bearing residents, who learnt that Hinds was at the function, converged at the entrance of the bauxite plant to voice their disapproval. Chants of “Sam Hinds, you are not welcome, get out” and Sam Hinds is a sell out” from protestors including Region 10 Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon, overseas-based Guyanese and activist Norman Brown, regional and IMC councillors and others followed the visiting party from the bauxite plant to the Watooka Club, making their way into the Club as Hinds moved to the podium.
The prime minister was, however, met by the chants of “Leave Sam leave, leave Sam leave, you couldn’t come July 19 now you come”, “Get out Sam Hinds you are not welcome,” which drowned out his remarks. They eventually forced him to cut short his presentation. He had been noting the changing fortunes of the bauxite industry and had been expressing hope for the return of the “good day” of bauxite glory in the mining town.
Later, the IMC and regional chairmen and natural resources minister all spoke of the potential for extensive investments and job creation in the town. According to Gordon, several previous investors had failed in their attempts to get to grips with the dust nuisance that had plagued the town and had been blamed for the high prevalence of respiratory infections and other illness in Linden.
“Bosai was a last grasp effort and must be complimented,” he said, adding that an attempt had been made by OMAI to address the problem but it was soon bought by Cambior, which had no interest in mining and all efforts were aborted. “…I know that the Chinese are very good at taking anything and making it into something,” Gordon said, referring to BMGG’s plans to secure a market for the dust trapped by the dust collector.
Gordon said that despite the massive investment already made by the Chinese company, Linden wants more and would press both the Prime Minister and the Minister of Natural Resources to ensure that they maximize benefits for the community. Gordon also noted that land restoration is also important and challenged the authorities to ensure that mined out holes are refilled and not left gaping as had been practiced by previous mining companies.
In his address, Persaud said Bosai’s investment is another indication that government has been encouraging economic ventures in the community and the country. “The company has made it quite clear that it [is] interested in expanding its investment, it is interested in creating more jobs and I wish to say that we are currently at the point where we are discussing those areas of investment,” Persaud said. The minister noted that government is looking to ensure that it draws the maximum benefit for the people of Linden and the entire country.
In alluding to Bosai’s plans to make a US$100M investment, the regional chairman said, “What we want to also acknowledge is the new investment that has been touted by the Bosai mineral Inc., to ensure that they put some level of input more than what they have done here today.” Solomon said in addition to honouring its commitment to installing the dust collector, the investment would open new areas to the benefit of the community.
The dust collector system installed on kiln #14 was completed and put into operation on June 30 after decades of complaints by residents about medical problems stemming from dust emissions, starting as far back as 1972. Preparatory work for the installation of dust collectors for both systems started in January 2011 when the first shipment of materials arrived.
Construction on the foundation for kiln #14 started at the beginning of March 2011. Due to the urgency of the project management focused on completing kiln # 14 while simultaneously working on kiln #13. The completion date for the latter has been pushed back due to the five-week shutdown of the town during the recent protest actions. Both collectors cost $80M in total.
Bosai took over the bauxite operations in Linden in March 2007 and had held meetings as early as 2008 concerning installing dust collectors on the two kilns. The company had targeted the third quarter of 2009 as the completion date but this deadline and several others were not met.
