Guyana is on track to produce over two million tonnes of aggregates by the end of 2024, driven by the nation’s rapid infrastructural development. This projection was revealed by Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, during a media briefing at the Guyana Forestry Commission Complex in Kingston, Georgetown.
Aggregates, which include materials such as gravel, crushed stone, loam, and sand, are essential for construction and infrastructure projects. The minister highlighted the significant progress in the mining sector, noting that the country’s aggregate production has increased dramatically since the PPP/C Government took office in 2020.
“We are set to surpass two million tonnes, and we may even reach 2.5 million tonnes in 2024, which marks a considerable improvement from where we were in 2020,” Minister Bharrat stated.
In 2020, Guyana’s annual production of aggregates was approximately 600,000 tonnes. However, by mid-2023, production had already surged to around 900,000 tonnes. By the end of July 2024, the country had produced 1.6 million tonnes of aggregates, putting it well on track to exceed the two million tonne mark by year’s end.
Minister Bharrat attributed this significant increase to the expansion of the quarry sector, including new investments and re-financing by existing operators, as well as the issuance of new licenses over the past few years. “Some of those new quarries are now coming online and contributing to production,” he explained.
Looking ahead, the minister expressed optimism that aggregate production will continue to grow, particularly as additional quarries begin operations in 2025. This expansion is critical, as the demand for aggregates in Guyana’s booming infrastructure sector is expected to climb even higher in the coming years. Projections indicate that the country will require over five million tonnes of aggregates within the next two to three years.
To meet this anticipated demand, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) is making preparations to ensure the country can produce, if not all, then most of the aggregates required locally. “We are positioning ourselves to meet the future needs of our infrastructure sector,” Minister Bharrat emphasized.
In addition to aggregates, Minister Bharrat also addressed the bauxite industry, acknowledging its previous decline but highlighting recent developments that signal a resurgence. He pointed to the ongoing operations of Guyana Industrial Minerals Inc. (GINMIN) in the Bonasika area and Bosai Minerals Group in Linden as key drivers of the industry’s recovery.
The GGMC recently granted Bosai a permit for a remnant deposit in the Kara Kara area of Linden, a move expected to significantly boost the company’s output. This investment not only promises to revitalize the bauxite sector but also to create more jobs for residents of Region Ten, contributing to the local economy’s growth.
With these developments, Guyana is positioning itself to meet both current and future demands in its rapidly growing infrastructure and mining sectors, marking a new chapter of economic expansion and industrial capability.
