Aiming for underground mining by mid next year, Zijin Mining Company has embarked on infrastructural works, Director of Cor-porate Office, Compliance, and Government Relations, Ragunauth Ramsaroop said.
In a brief telephone interview, Ramsaroop explained that the company is currently in the process of creating the necessary roads, tunnels, and infrastructure, to get to and from the mines.
Further, as part of the process, the mining area is being prepared and thousands of gallons of water accumulated during preparation are being pumped out.
Ramsaroop explained that this portion of the work is being executed by a contracted company and Zijin mining has not yet commenced hiring for this phase of mining.
The Chinese-owned company acquired 100 per cent of Aurora’s gold mines in 2020 from Canadian-owned Guyana Goldfields.
Touching on the open pit operations, Ramsaroop said that they are currently working on satellite pits since the main pit, Aurora, remains flooded.
He explained that the current recruitment drive is to ensure that employees are on hand at all times and shifts are fully staffed.
The company to date has employed over 896 Guyanese who account for 90 per cent of the work force. Fellow Chinese company, Sinohydro, had been contracted to execute stripping works in a bid to accelerate its work plan.
Zijin Mining Group is one of the largest gold, copper and zinc producers in China and has experience in prospecting, construction, mining, metallurgy, and the operation of gold mines.
