Bauxite companies bullish on production growth

A section of the gathering at yesterday’s bauxite sector forum at Watooka House, in Linden.

Bosai Minerals Group and Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc (BCGI)–a subsidiary of Russian bauxite company Rusal–have both projected increased output for this year but are guarded about what this will mean in financial terms.

This was revealed at a review of the bauxite sector held at a forum yesterday at Watooka House, in Linden. The event, hosted by the Ministry of Natural Re-sources and the Environment, saw the presence of executives of both companies, officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others. Minister of Natural Re-sources and the Environment Robert Persaud gave the opening address at the two hour plus interactive session.

A section of the gathering at yesterday’s bauxite sector forum at Watooka House, in Linden.
A section of the gathering at yesterday’s bauxite sector forum at Watooka House, in Linden.

Present too was Chairman of the Region 10 Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Sharma Solomon, who registered his disappointment during the session with the late notice that he received of the meeting.

He said that had he known earlier, he would have been able to prepare to properly interact on the issues surrounding the bauxite industry.

According to the ministry, bauxite production improved significantly last year, moving from 1,827,555 metric tonnes in 2011 to 2,034,811 metric tonnes at the end of November 2012, representing an overall