Two companies, Source One Oil and Gas Marine Supplies Inc and Alta Construtura SA have joined forces to develop a quarry in Linden which boasts a substantial capital investment of GY$32.5 billion.
Importantly, it is anticipated that the materials from this quarry will play a pivotal role in the Linden to Mabura Hill Road Upgrade, contributing significantly to the reduction of material imports and bringing numerous positive social impacts to the entire project.
The project location is nestled on the left bank of the Demerara River, at approximately 60 kilometers south of Linden, with the nearest settlement being Malali, situated 20 kilometers to the east. Notably, the project area finds its home within the Amazon rainforest of Guyana, surrounded on all sides by dense forest.
In the proposal submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency for approval, it was noted that existing land-use at the site is currently vacant, however it is a borrow pit that was exploited years ago by another company. This previous activity has left some environmental impacts in its wake, likely due to poorly executed soil extraction and a lack of reclamation efforts.
The consequences of this previous extraction process are evident today, with environmental and geological hazards, such as soil erosion and potential risks to both people and local fauna, owing to the distinctive slopes in the vicinity. Importantly, the company stressed that these conditions in the borrow pit are unrelated to any activities by the Contractors, as their extraction operations have yet to commence. All of the impacts discovered are remnants of pre-existing conditions.
The quarry project, integral to this development, is planned for a five-year lifespan. This duration is based on the extraction of reserves both above and below nominal elevation.
