Asian company Rong-An Inc has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for environmental authorisation to undertake large-scale logging in Berbice in an investment pegged at US$20 million.
In an ad in Friday’s Stabroek News, the EPA said that Rong-An Inc has submitted an application for authorisation to undertake large scale Logging and the operation of a portable sawmill within SFEP 02/ 2011, located on the right bank of the Berbice River and left bank of the Corentyne River in Region 6.
This project would entail the felling, extraction of timber and transportation of same to a wharf facility for subsequent barging, grading, construction of roads, skid trails, bridges, culverts, and camps with other ancillary facilities and the operation of a portable sawmill within the concession.
The EPA said that it recognises that since this development may have significant impacts on the environment and in keeping with the Environmental Protection Act, an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is required before any decision to approve or reject this proposed project is taken.
It invited members of the public, within 28 days, to make written submissions to the Agency, setting out those questions and matters which they require to be answered or considered in the ESIA.
According to the project summary, Rong-An Inc expects to invest US$20 million in the development of the concession of the project and expects to employ an additional 80 persons on receipt of the forest concession. The project is expected to have a life of at least 50 years.
Rong-An Inc. was incorporated in Guyana on September 1, 2006. According to the project summary, the company plans to invest more than US$50 million in Guyana in various sectors including an initial US$20 million in the forestry sector. It currently employs 70 persons.
The company had received a State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP) from the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) designated 2/2011 for an area of 57,929 hectares of forest resources in the upper right bank Berbice River.
Rong-An Inc and fellow Chinese company, Baishanlin have been the source of much controversy over their forestry operations here.
