Guyana’s bauxite industry firmly on its feet again – President

…New Gy$4.6B Rusal bauxite mine commissioned

President Donald Ramotar on Wednesday formally commissioned a new bauxite mine at  Kurubuka, on the Upper Berbice River, saying that the event was another success story for the People’ Progressive Party/Civic which had launched a vigorous programme for saving the bauxite industry in Guyana when it entered Government in 1992.

He made the remark during a commissioning ceremony to launch production of the new mine and processing plant which has been established by the Russian bauxite giant United Company (UC) RUSAL and its local subsidiary, Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc., (BCGI). The investment amounted to Gy$4.6B.

The commissioning took place at Kurubuka in the presence of senior government officials, including Ministers Robert Persaud, Robeson Benn and Juan Edhgill, the Russsian Ambassador, a large gathering of residents; members of the village council of neighbouring Hururu village, and staffers and senior officials of RUSAL including Mr. Vladislav Soloviov, the Chief Executive Officer of UC RUSAL who had travelled to Guyana specifically for the commissioning of the new mine.

Other speakers at the event were Minister Persaud, Mr. Soloviov and Mr. Serguey Kostiau, Managing Director of BCGI.

During a feature address to the large gathering at Kurubuka, President Ramotar said that in 1992 the government had found the bauxite industry on the brink of collapse.

“It was said then that the industry was uneconomical and that it should be closed, but the PPP/C Government said no and we commenced the process of saving the industry.”

He added: “Today, we can say that the first part of the mission of the PPP/C has been accomplished; the bauxite industry is once again on a firm footing and we are very happy for that”.

He praised RUSAL for being steadfast in its determination to expand its operations in Guyana despite the many challenges it had faced. He said that investments such as these made by RUSAL laid the foundations for a better life, not only for the neighbouring communities of Kwakwani and Hururu, but for all Guyanese.

He once again expressed the dream that the day will come when Guyana will be able to add value to its bauxite with the establishment of an aluminium smelter.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud said that the bauxite industry had been brought back from near-death by the PPP/C Government.

He noted that the Kurubuka 22 project had been in the pipeline for quite a few years and he was happy that the company had demonstrated a high level of confidence in Guyana and had invested the huge sums necessary for the mine and its related plants and equipment.

He urged RUSAL to examine other areas of expansion so that more opportunities can be created for the people of Region 10.

Soloviov praised the government for creating the right investment climate and encouragement to RUSAL to expand its operations.

He noted that RUSAL had invested over $US150M since it came to Guyana in 2004.

He said that the Kurubuka project will bring additional economic and social benefits to the immediate and surrounding communities of Hururu, Kwakwani, Aroaima, Ituni and Linden by creating direct employment opportunities as well as social benefits.

The Kurubuka 22 deposit is located immediately adjacent to the Berbice River and approximately 14.5 km from the former Aroaima’s crushing and drying facilities.

During the commissioning ceremony, the President and other senior officials were taken on a tour of the plant at Kurubuka during which they saw the operational process from the loading of the raw materials into the plant to its deposit in a barge for transport to the mouth of the Berbice River and export.

RUSAL also gave tokens of appreciation to several of its workers whose good performance, the Company said, was instrumental in the construction phase leading to the official launch of the production at the mine.