IN responding to the growing demand for construction materials in the Berbice District, a local investor, Hareshnarine Sugrim, is seeking to develop a modern, open sand, loam and laterite pit mine, which will generate 30 jobs during construction and 20 jobs during operation.

A project summary of the Berbice River Sand Pit Project was recently submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review.

According to the project summary, the developer will hire local persons, including women, based on their experience and skills, to support the construction, operational, and closure phases of the project.

The initial output of the mine is expected to be at least 1,000 tonnes per week of sand, loam, and laterite, which will increase as the project recovers its capital expenditure and if the demand justifies further investment in expanding production capacity.

The proposed project site is located on the left bank of the Berbice River, 115 kilometres (km) south of New Amsterdam, and 200 km from Georgetown and encompasses approximately 1,189 acres of land.

“The project lies on an area that is classified as sandy red – yellow latosols and is perfectly placed to host significant reserves of fill materials,” the developer stated.

Sugrim related, in the project summary, that the development will create significant, positive impacts for the Government and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), both of which will benefit through government taxes, fees, and duties.

“This project will also play a significant role in the economic growth of the country by generating revenues and promoting employment, while supplying the materials needed to support the construction industry,” Sugrim said.

Additionally, according to the project summary, fill materials are being sourced from up the Essequibo and Demerara Rivers to supply the demand in Berbice, which has not only delayed works, but has also significantly driven up the cost of construction in Berbice.

“Given the planned development in Berbice, i.e., several shore bases, the Guyana — Suriname Bridge, etc., there is a definite need for the establishment of adequate mines in Berbice to support these construction projects with fill material,” Sugrim said.

The mine is being developed with an expected economic life span of at least 10 years. This life span is based on the extraction of reserves, both above and below nominal elevation.

Sugrim related that he is committed to being a responsible corporate partner to the Government of Guyana, and is currently assembling a team of experienced and professional persons to manage this project.

The company expects that it would be able to satisfy some of the demand for construction materials through this new project.

Building on the progress made in 2022 through increased public and private investments, Guyana’s vibrant construction industry is expected to expand even further this year.

Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, during his presentation of Budget 2023 last week, said: “…latest estimates show that the construction sector grew by a very strong 26.3 per cent in 2022. As was the case in 2021, this expansion is supported by intensified activity in the public and private sectors.”

Driven by further plans to invest heavily in the establishment and maintenance of critical infrastructure across the country, Dr Singh also highlighted that the local construction industry is projected to expand even further this year.

This development, the Finance Minister said, is related to the Government of Guyana’s investments in upgraded roads and bridges, housing developments, education and health facilities, agricultural infrastructure, and private sector investments in the oil-and-gas and service industries.