More than 700 small miners in Guyana have been granted land tenures over the past four years, contributing to the growth of the country’s mining sector.
At a recent press conference, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, shared that during this period, three lotteries were conducted, benefiting around 550 small miners with access to mineral-rich properties.
“I can confidently say that over 700 small miners now have land tenures. The 550 I mentioned were allocated through lotteries, but additional tenures have been granted through the standard procedures of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC),” Minister Bharrat explained.
Of the 550 lots allocated via the lottery, 150 were distributed in Bartica, and another 200 were given to small miners in Mahdia earlier this year. Minister Bharrat also noted that the mining station at Marudi in Region Nine has been reopened, benefitting more than 40 small miners in the area.
These initiatives are not only supporting the miners but also stimulating economic activity in the surrounding regions. Despite a recent dip in gold declarations, Minister Bharrat remains optimistic about the sector’s future.
“While gold declarations have been low, the outlook remains positive. We have recently signed an agreement with Reunion Gold, which is expected to start production by 2027, with an estimated output of over 200,000 ounces of gold annually,” he said.
Another large-scale mining company is also expected to begin production in 2027, further boosting Guyana’s mining output. Additionally, the AJM/Zijin Mining Company is exploring underground mining, which is anticipated to significantly increase its production.
Minister Bharrat highlighted that Omai Gold Mines has already produced approximately four million ounces of gold, and significant gold deposits remain at the Toroparu site managed by ETK Inc.
He also mentioned that a large-scale mining operation in the Marudi area is still in the exploration phase, while another company in Mahdia has applied to convert its prospecting license into a mining license.
Should this agreement be finalized, their production will commence following Reunion Gold’s start-up.
