Sun & Sand Mining and Minerals Resource (UK) has submitted an application to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for an authorisation for large scale mining in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni.
An EPA notice in yesterday’s Stabroek News said that in keeping with its Act, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is necessary and members of the public were being invited to tender questions they wanted answered in an EIA.
In 2014, the company had told Stabroek News of its interest in gold mining. An affiliate of the company was meant to be building a hotel at Liliendaal but this project has stalled.
Director of the Sun and Sand Group of Companies Bhushan Chandna had told Stabroek News in July, 2014 that the company is moving ahead with diversifying its business ventures in Guyana beyond its planned US$54 million hotel at Liliendaal.
Chandna had revealed that the Indian company would be applying for a mining licence and has already applied for a logging licence although he could not say when exactly the paperwork was sent in.
With the hotel project stalled questions are likely to arise about the application for mining authorisation. There is a widely held view here that many companies are coming here with promises of large investments in hospitality and value-added timber but who are really interested in logging and mining.
The EPA notice said that the mining project would entail development of an open pit mine that involves the clearing of vegetation, removal of topsoil and extraction of hard rock among other features.
The mining is proposed to be carried out on state land located in the Mazaruni Mining District and the Cuyuni Mining District.
Members of the public can address comments to the EPA, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown.
