Guyana and South Africa have signed a “Declaration of Intent” in mining and mineral policy development.
Minister of Natural Resources Raphael Trotman and the visiting Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources of South Africa Godfrey Oliphant signed the declaration, which has been described as a precursor to a Memorandum of Understanding.
The declaration, which concerns the fields of mining, mineral policy development, exploration, mineral processing and beneficiation, was signed at Watooka House in Linden, after a tour of the Bosai Minerals Group mine.
The document declared the two countries’ intent to collaborate in the fields of expertise and experience as it relates to Mineral Policy Development and Legislation; Environmental Protection and Biodiversity; Exploration, Mining and Mineral Processing; Technological Exchange and Beneficiation; and Skills Development and Training.
The parties also committed to undertaking visits to the respective countries in the areas identified by the Guyanese Government to do preliminary exploration work which may include taking samples for laboratory testing in South Africa; and to facilitate exchange programmes for both students and practitioners in the development of skills and training.
South Africa also committed to assisting Guyana with the capability to conduct geological surveys and mapping activities in gold, diamond and other activities; and at the invitation of the Guyana Government, Pretoria will be willing to send technical teams to do preliminary studies for offshore exploration and mining and will also assist with alternative technologies to carry out mercury-free commercial gold mining.
South Africa also pledged to assist Guyana in the harmonisation of the legal framework to be fully compatible with the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme core documents and statues and implementation of their minimum standards requirements.
The document added that the parties commit to the facilitation and cooperation in commercial activities in mining and related industries including research and development of lapidary management, diamond cutting and design, and for value-added production, among other areas.
“The Parties further reaffirm their commitment to the process of drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will further elaborate bilateral agreements to be entered into by their respective Governments and in addition to develop a joint roadmap to achieve the objectives of this declaration,” the document said.
After the tour, the two ministers also planted a tree by the Casuarina Drive arch that was built by Bosai in 2016 to celebrate 100 years of bauxite production in the region as a sign of friendship.
