First Bauxite Executives pays courtesy call on Minister Broomes

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, August 30, 2018

Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes today received a courtesy call from Executive members of First Bauxite Corporation. The call made by President and Chief Executive Officer, Alan Roughead and Director Ian Christie was to given an update on the progress of the construction of the Bonasika Bauxite Project.

Christie said that they have finalised the submission for their investment development agreement for minerals which is currently being processed by the government and is optimistic that in the near future everything will be completed. This, he said, “will enable us to mobilise some major equipment pieces for the project so we can start putting them together on site and hopefully commission them in the middle of next year.”

Roughead said the project is on track and is pleased with the support they are receiving from the government of Guyana. The Executive Officer also highlighted that currently, the workforce consists of 100 persons with 90 percent being Guyanese. That percentage, he said, is expected to increase to more than 95 percent once operation commences.

Minister Broomes noted her satisfaction with professionalism being shown by the company in terms of on-site safety and local content. The minister said that during a recent visit to the site, she was impressed not only with the emphasis placed on safety but the number of Guyanese employed; but more particularly, the number of women the company has employed.

However, as it relates to the investment development agreement that deals with concessions, Minister Broomes said that is something being dealt with by the Ministry of Finance but is confident that it will be completed shortly.

Nevertheless, Minister Broomes is optimistic once operation commences, all will benefit. “We know that the company will be successful but not only that the company will benefit but Guyana and Guyanese people will benefit so it is a win-win situation for all.”

First Bauxite started feasibility work on the Bonasika Project in 2008. It also conducted two major production trials in 2015. Production at Bonasika is scheduled to start at the end of next year.

By: Isaiah Braithwaite

Images: Kawise Wishart