GIVEN the high demand for aggregate and the current limitations of supply, as well as the anticipated increase in demand from the emerging oil and gas sector, Khan’s Enterprise will be investing more than US$2 million in the construction of a quarry in Essequibo.

A project summary was recently submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review.

According to the project summary, the company seeks to develop a modern, large scale quarry to meet existing and projected demand.

“This Quarry Project is being designed to produce 50,000 tonnes of aggregate and boulders per year in its initial capacity. This will increase when the project recovers capital expenditure and further invests in expanding production capacity,” Khan’s Enterprise said.

The quarry outputs will be transported by barge down the Essequibo River to Georgetown and other points of demand.

This project, according to its summary, will also play a huge role in the economic growth of Guyana by generating revenues and promoting employment, while supplying the materials needed to support the construction industry.

The construction of the crushing plant is expected to cover a period of four to six months and employ approximately 60 persons, while after construction, the life span of the quarry is expected to be approximately 20 years and during the operational phase, approximately 30 jobs will be created.

The Essequibo quarry project site is located on the right bank of the Essequibo River and all quarry products will be shipped down the Essequibo River by barges for delivery to the market in and around Georgetown.

The main objective of the project is to carry the business of prospecting, exploring, developing drilling, blasting, and crushing capabilities onsite for the supply of these products to the market in and around Georgetown.

Khan’s Enterprise said that with this investment, they hope to meet the growing demand for aggregate domestically, as the economy continues to be boosted by increasing construction, infrastructure, and sea defence works, with further expansion anticipated with the coming oil production related activities.

Building on the progress made in 2022 through increased public and private investments, Guyana’s vibrant construction industry has been expanding even further in 2023, with continued expansion anticipated.

With the local construction industry also expanding further this year, this growth is linked to massive government investments in new and improved roads and bridges, housing developments, educational and health facilities, agricultural infrastructure, and private sector investment in the oil and gas and hospitality industries.