The Potaro Mining Company and the Malali Quarry Inc have applied for environmental permits to operate quarries in regions Seven and Ten respectively.
Following a screening of their application the Environ-mental Protection Agency (EPA) in a public notice says that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is not required; however, both companies will have to prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) in order to get approval to operate the respective quarries.
“The screening of these projects resulted in them being categorized as having no significant impacts, and minor issues can be addressed through appropriate and practical environmental safeguards informed by an Environ-mental Management Plan. The Agency is satisfied that if decisions are taken to approve these projects, robust measures can be prescribed to ensure compliance with the Environmental Protection Act, Cap. 20:05,” the notice said.
Further, it was said that the Agency requires that an EMP be prepared for the projects to address specific issues identified in the screening process, and detail specific and practical mitigation measures to ensure that the proposed projects can be undertaken in an environmentally-sound and sustainable manner.
According to the Potaro Mining Company project’s summary, the proposed location of its stone quarry is at LM 40:A-10002/000/21, Confluence of Essequibo River and Emeriwabo Creek, Region Seven, Mazaruni Mining, District No.3. The area is approximately 80 Km south west of the capital city of Georgetown and the closest town is Bartica, some 16.39 Km south, all distances along terrestrial routes.
The Phase 1 project will see stone extraction and construction of infrastructural works being conducted on Mining Permits GS23: R-423/000 and GS23: R-423/003 for the first five years of the project life. Subsequent extensions of the Quarry licence will see stone extraction and construction of infrastructural works on GS23: R-423/001 and GS23: R423/004.
Some US$3, 019,324 is expected to be invested into the project but the initial investment will be US$1,000,000 or GY$206,000,000. The project is expected to last for five years and will see about 50 to 66 persons being employed during that time.
Meanwhile, Malali’s summary stated that the ‘Tiger Hill Quarry Project’ area is approximately 1400 acres, and is located in the Malali Amerindian Village. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has already been signed between the Project Director (Malali Quarry Inc.) and the Malali Amerindian Village Council.
The potential quarry operation has a start-up capital of US$3.15 Million and a total investment of US$13 Million. Malali said that they expect to produce 216,000 to 300,000 tons of stone yearly, increasing capacity by 10% every year.
Based on estimated reserves, the Tigerhill quarry project has a fifty-year mine life but will have an initial workforce of 30 local employees.
The full project summary of the proposed projects can be found on the EPA’s website. The Agency also said that any person who may be affected by the proposed projects may lodge an appeal against the Agency’s decision that an EIA is not required within thirty days of the publication of this Notice, addressed to the Environmental Assessment Board.
