INFLUENCED by the increasing demand for boulders and aggregates on the local market, Windsor Technologies, a Guyanese-owned company, is taking steps to establish a quarry operation at an area which is approximately nine to twelve kilometres away from Mabura, Region Ten.

With a booming construction industry, driven by both public and private investments, the demand for materials is higher than ever before.

Windsor Technologies, cognisant of this, plans to utilise approximately 150 acres of land to develop “Mabura Quarry.”

The company explained that a quarry operation is essentially an open pit operation. Extraction of rock from the quarry is carried out by firstly removal and storage of the topsoil for rehabilitation, stripping which is essentially removing the overburden, drilling, and loading the drill holes with explosives, blasting (where required) and then removal by excavators.

Extracted rock is then delivered to the crushing plant(s) by loaders or dumpers depending on requirements of the crushing plant(s).

“It is the duty of the quarry operator or his/her delegated representative to develop and ensure compliance with suitable and sufficient rules covering excavation to ensure the safe construction and operation of excavations,” Windsor Technologies said.

The quarrying industry’s role is to provide a reliable supply of construction materials for road making, building construction, and the maintenance of road networks on which other industries depend.

As observed in other industries, successful market leaders are those who provide an efficient and effective service and are mindful of all aspects of their public image.

The modern community demands that these premises be managed carefully with consideration of the needs of the environment, neighbours, and employees.

The general objective in planning for the provision of these materials is to ensure that the supply is managed in a sustainable way, so the best balance is obtained among environmental, economic, and social considerations.

“The primary reason for the opening of this quarry was to satisfy the Ministry of Public Works with boulders for sea defence maintenance and aggregates for road maintenance and other construction works,” Windsor Technologies said in a project summary seen by the Guyana Chronicle.

The company will produce boulders, crusher-run and aggregates from an area which has approximately 7.4 million tonnes of quarry resources.

“The proposed quarry will produce approximately 1.7 million tonnes of boulders and aggregates in five years. The production rate will fluctuate depending on demand,” the company said, adding that through its operation, it will create jobs for approximately 100 persons.

Speaking about the potential for advancement in the local quarrying industry, President Ali had said: “Guyana has a huge quarry potential that has been greatly underdeveloped. Our accelerated housing programme, massive highways, and community roads to be developed will increase our demand three-fold over the next five years.”

To maximise local benefits, create jobs, and expand local content through this industry, the government is in the process of issuing new quarrying licences, to fully satisfy local demand.

Last year, the mining and quarrying sector grew by 36.5 per cent, driven by growth across all industries, namely, oil, gold, bauxite, and other mining and quarrying enterprises.