IN a move to enhance local gold production, the government will soon distribute 200 additional mining blocks to miners in Mahdia, Region Eight. The announcement was made by Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat during a consultation with goldsmiths and jewelers at Duke Lodge in Kingston, Georgetown, on Tuesday.

Minister Bharrat highlighted that this initiative is part of a broader effort to address the needs of those in the gold mining industry and to mitigate the challenges they face. “On Friday, we are going to Mahdia where we will give out 200 blocks,” Minister Bharrat stated. He also noted that property holdings had been allocated to about 100 Guyanese miners in the Troy Resources area.
Interested individuals and organisations can view the available mining blocks on maps displayed at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) head office, District Mining Stations, or online at the GGMC’s website. Applicants must complete a registration form, available from GGMC offices or downloadable from the website.

For individuals, necessary documents include the company’s Articles of Incorporation, the director’s ID or passport, the share certificate, or recent annual returns. Businesses must also provide a Certificate of Registration along with the required documents. Applicants must be citizens of Guyana, over 18 years old, and should not possess more than three years of medium permits or large-scale licences. Companies must have at least 51 per cent beneficial Guyanese ownership.

This distribution follows a similar exercise in Region Seven, where 150 blocks were allocated to small miners. Minister Bharrat assured that these allocations, along with the entry of new mining companies, will significantly boost Guyana’s gold industry.
“The road ahead is a bright one because we have recently signed an agreement with Reunion Gold. I think their production will be over 200,000 ounces annually once they start producing in 2027,” the minister said. He also mentioned that Aurora Gold Mining (AGM) is set to commence underground mining operations soon to supplement existing production.
The distribution of additional mining blocks and the anticipated increase in production from new agreements underscore the government’s commitment to strengthening the gold mining sector and supporting local miners in Guyana.