THE Russian Aluminum Company’s (RUSAL’s) plans to shore up bauxite production by 1,900,000 tonnes next year while commencing work on a new deposit were brought to President Donald Ramotar when officials of the company met him at the Office of the President yesterday.

Leading the team was Director of the RUSAL Alumina and Bauxite Business, Valery Matvienko, who was joined by Head of Representative in Guyana, Vladimir Permyakov, and Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Nikolay Smirnov.
Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Robert Persaud was also part of the meeting which explored the situation with aluminum and alumina bauxite market at the global level.
RUSAL procured a fleet of equipment and will soon be mining in Kurubuka and Korite, which have a combined deposit of close to 80 million tonnes.
In Kwakwani, where the company is based, five students were recently sponsored to pursue geological studies at reputable institutions in Russia, while training of its onsite operators was offered. About 1,000 persons are employed, directly or indirectly, resulting from the company’s operations.
As part of the commitment to cultivate and improve on relations with the Berbice river community, cooperation in areas other than bauxite mining was discussed at yesterday’s meeting.
Minister Persaud, who had toured the company’s operations in August, had met privately with executives to discuss concerns regarding discrepancies between the company and the community.
He subsequently disclosed that following the discussions, consensus was reached on mechanisms between the community and company to resolve the touchy issues.
RUSAL has been operating in the Region 10 community since 2007, after sealing an agreement for government to hold 10 percent shares in RUSAL.(GINA)