MINING Week this year is to be observed from August 23 to 29.
A source at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) which stages the annual week-long activities said the theme will be: “Improving methods, satisfying stakeholders, and securing prosperity from the sector.” Activities will include a National Mining and Quarrying Conference and Exhibition, a mining and petroleum exhibition at the Girl Guides Pavilion and a Porkknockers’ Day, among others.

The main feature of the observances will be the National Mining and Quarrying Conference to be held at the Pegasus Hotel from August 24 to 28, with expert presentations on the subject: Challenges for the exploitation of mineral and petroleum resources.”

Presentations are scheduled on the following topics for days one, two and three : Global Energy Outlook (Presenter EXXON-MOBIL); Building an Energy Industry That Works (Presenter Diana Lee Dalton – Canada Nova Scotia Offshore, Petroleum Board) Bauxite and Guyana: What Next? (Presenter Hilbert Shields, Economic Geologist) Post Bauxite Mining and Rehabilitation (Presenter Prof. Martin Fey, University of Western Australia); Conservation and Development in Guyana (Presenter Dr David Singh, CEO Conservation Intl.) and Market Possibilities: Sand & Stone; Kaolin; Columbite-Tantalite, Tin & Platinum and others (General discussion).

Workshops and education sessions are scheduled for the following topics for days four and five: Roraima Core Workshop (Dr Lawrie Minter, Consultant Geologist) ; Gold Nugget Workshop (Dr John Youngson); Fundamentals of the Petroleum Industry (Fazal Hosein; Director International Geological Services Ltd., Trinidad and Tobago); Examination of Petroleum Potential in the C’bean ( Fazal Hosein) Small Dam Construction for Tailings Management (Ronald Glasgow, Senior Mining Engineer, GGMC) Processing Capacities & Field Analysis Techniques (Keith Aaron, Metallica Commodities Corp).

Those targeted and expected to benefit from these presentations and workshops include Petroleum and Quarry Company Executives, Geoscientists, Miners and Prospectors, Mining Industry Consultants, Investors/Financiers, Government and other decision makers, University Students, Manufacturers; Suppliers; Users of Mining Equipment & Machinery, Distributors of Engineered Products and Service Providers.

The Mining and Petroleum sector exhibition is to be staged at the Girl Guides Pavilion, Brickdam for the duration of the week, from 15:00 h – 21:00h.

A number of education tours to mining areas are planned but are yet to be confirmed, while the Porkknockers’ Day is to be held at Bartica on Saturday, August 29.