IN response to the increasing need for infrastructure to support the oil and gas industry, Elaine Ville Housing Development INC. plans to construct a multi-million-dollar quarry in Potaro Mining district No.2.

Recently, a project summary was given to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for review.

The company also said that it intends to make an investment of US$7,000,000 in the modern quarry area.

Owing to the rising demand for building stone, the company is targetting this market. Notably, it is estimated that the area possesses a reserve of 3,450,000 tonnes of rocks.

According to Elaine Ville Housing Development INC., the reserve can produce crushed aggregates and boulders.

“The life of mine is expected to be twelve years producing 300,000 tons of product annually,” the project summary related.

According to the company: “The area is approximately 102.5 miles south west of the capital city of Georgetown and the closest town is Mahdia, some 42.7 miles west,” and explained that the project area encompasses 2,797 acres.

The area is approximately 102.5 miles south west of the capital city of Georgetown and the closest town is Mahdia, some 42.7 miles to the west and Bartica is located 67.8 miles north and Linden 45.4 miles northeast of the project area.

“The northern boundary of Great Falls 58 Miles Amerindian Titled Lands is just west of the project area… The main road linking the project to Georgetown is the Linden- Soesdyke Highway and the Linden-Mabura Road,” the document read.

Speaking on the employment prospects, the company said that the project is expected to provide jobs to around 26 persons.

“The proposed quarry is expected to employ 26 permanent employees working 12 hour shifts 7 days a week. The proposed staffing accommodation and infrastructural works seem to adequately cater for the efficient daily operations of the business,” Elaine Ville Housing Development INC said.

Last Saturday, President Dr. Irfaan Ali spoke on Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increase in the first half of this year and the performance of the traditional sectors.

The extractive sector, that is: mining and quarrying, showed an overall growth of 89.9 per cent in the first half of 2023, with a strong growth in the petroleum sub-sector.

Speaking on the mining and quarrying industry, the President said: “When we came into government quarrying was virtually dead. The production was at an all-time low, even when compared to 2015,” adding: “We have been able to bring the necessary measures and fiscal incentives to stimulate back the sector to the extent that,,,,, in the first half of this year, other mining and quarrying grew by 45.2 per cent.”