COMMISSIONER of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Newell Dennison said consideration is being given to have the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) submit certain aspects of its operations to external sources.

GGMC staffers have demanded that the GGB laboratory be removed from the GGMC compound as high mercury levels have been found in numerous workers.
The staffers were told that the GGB has indicated that it has nowhere else to house its operations and is looking at ways to make its operations safer.

“I know that one such possible solution is that the gold board relinquishes the way in which it does its business to an external agency that does refining and so on. In fact, I understand that one such interested company should be in the country before the end of the month,” Dennison said.

This publication was told that several companies have expressed interest in providing refining services to the GGB and it is likely that those proposals would be entertained.
It is assumed, however, that the refining aspect of things would include some change to the way mercury is used in the operation, but the Guyana Gold Board has promised to provide more information in this regard.

In a lot of artisanal and small-scale gold mining, mercury is mixed with gold containing materials to form a mercury-gold amalgam.
This mixture is then heated to vaporise the mercury, leaving the gold behind. It is during this burning process at the GGB that some amount of the vaporised mercury escapes and enters the atmosphere.

It was reported that equipment was sourced to test the air and determine the levels of mercury emission in the compound. This equipment was said to have been out of order.
When staffers were tested, unsafe mercury levels were found, prompting the commission to deliver some 200 letters, urging staffers to get tested for contamination of the harmful element.

The commissioner told Guyana Chronicle that the GGB has GGMC’s full support in trying to find solutions to its operations. In regards to the GGB move to outsourcing, Dennison said the GGMC is “happy” with whatever solution the agency takes to rectify the current situation.

“I know they are looking at options and I have already undertaken to give support to the gold board in trying to find suitable options. We must have a long-term solution,” Dennison said.

Measures already taken and ongoing to address the mercury concerns included a comprehensive inspection of the entire emissions control system, timely refurbishing of all areas and aspects of related systems, physical extension of emissions chimney, satisfactory testing of work and resulting emissions, arranging for written assurances (warranties) as to work performed, continuing with an aggressive maintenance schedule, recruiting external monitoring parties for safety certification purposes and continuous monitoring to detect any suspicious levels.