SOME 587 Guyanese have been re-employed by Aurora Gold Mine after being laid off earlier this year, due to the pandemic.
This was disclosed by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, who visited the mining operations on Monday to recommission the company’s Processing Plant.
“This is quite outstanding because at our first meeting a few months back, a few weeks after we took office, the company reported that they would re-employ before December, but only two to three hundred Guyanese. So today, we are happy to learn that the company has already re-employed 587 Guyanese,” the minister said.
Minister Bharrat said Aurora Gold Mine, which was recently acquired by Zijin Mining Group Company Limited, a Chinese company, will start full operations soon.
“This is a positive step forward in creating employment for Guyanese and to re-employ those who would have been laid off by Guyana Goldfields previously,” he said.
Minister Bharrat pointed out that Zijin Mining is also hoping to get approval to start regulated underground mining in Guyana. The company is seeking to start operations by mid-2021. This will see almost 200 additional Guyanese being employed, bringing the total close to 700.
However, Minister Bharrat noted that Guyana lacks the capacity to regulate underground mining. He added that they have had discussions on building local capacity and bringing in experts to regulate the operations.
He also disclosed that the ministry is seeking to partner with the company to develop the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s (GGMC’s) mining school.
“If we are going to speak on local content as a country, and a Government, demand employment for Guyanese. We need to build technical capabilities; we need to build capacity among our locals,” Minister Bharrat said.
Meanwhile, safety remains a primary concern for the Ministry. Consequently, an agreement was reached with the company for “two GGMC Mines Officers who will be permanently placed here at the Aurora Mines to ensure that the regulations are followed and to advise and guide the company as to daily operations.”
Meanwhile, the minister said the Environmental Protection Agency would be engaged to address any environmental matter.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Joslyn McKenzie, Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr. K. J. Srinivasa and officers from the GGMC also attended Monday’s exercise.
The Original News Link is https://guyanachronicle.com/2020/11/25/450613/
Sobre Zijin Mining
Zijin Mining es una empresa líder mundial en el sector de metales y minería, y uno de los mayores productores globales de oro, cobre y zinc. Con más de 30 operaciones y proyectos mineros de gran escala distribuidos en 19 países y 5 continentes, la compañía aprovecha sus sólidas capacidades internas de investigación, ingeniería y desarrollo para mantener una alta eficiencia operacional y bajos costos, tanto en adquisiciones como en operaciones.
Este enfoque le ha permitido consolidarse como referente en la creación de valor, respaldado por su filosofía de desarrollo compartido y sustentado por un desempeño superior en materia ambiental, social y de gobierno corporativo. Las acciones de Zijin cotizan en la Bolsa de Hong Kong (HKEX: 2899) y en la Bolsa de Shanghai (SSE: 601899).