As Guyana’s gold mining industry assumes an increasingly prominent role in the growth and development of the country’s economy, government continues to seek ways of accessing knowledge and technology available through participation in international fora. A decision was therefore taken to send a delegation to China’s Third Annual Gold Mining Technology Forum being held in the country’s Shandong Province from August 27 – 30, Minister in the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes has told the Stabroek Business.
Broomes, who has been assigned to head the Guyana delegation, which will include technical officers from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) told this newspaper that the focus will be on seeking to ensure that the delegation’s participation has a direct bearing on how the forum can assist in the advancement of the country’s gold-mining sector.
“Obviously the fact that bigger players than ourselves in the sector will be there affords us the opportunity to learn from being in China and the brief that we have received already provides us with some indicators as to where our interests would lie,” Broomes said. The minister identified training, appropriate technology and green mining as being high on Guyana’s agenda. She said that these are among the areas that the Guyana delegation will focus on during its stay in China.
The China gold industry forum which is being held under the theme ‘Innovation in Science and Technology, Ecological Mining,’ seeks to cover new technologies and methods in exploration, development and processing of gold ores and the analyzing and forecasting of future trends in the gold market. The event will also feature a high-level forum on ‘Technology Development in the Gold Mining Industry’ while some visiting delegations involved in technology and equipment marketing will be exhibiting their goods.
Broomes said that President David Granger having already given “a clear policy lead” on the issue of a green economy the Guyana delegation will be paying close attention to deliberations on green mining.
“Part of our concern too will be with seeking to determine whether we might be interested in learning more about the kind of mining technology that is both efficient in its operation and accessible in terms of cost so that, perhaps, we might offer new opportunities to small miners,” Broomes said.
The Guyana delegation is expected to leave for China this weekend.
