— National Geophysical Survey and new forest concessions among projects, mining lottery to boost sustainable resource management and economic empowerment.

MINISTER of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, has called on miners and loggers to unite and innovate to strengthen their industries, urging greater collaboration and a shift toward value-added production.

Addressing a gathering of miners and loggers during an outreach in Region Two, Minister Bharrat stressed that Guyana’s transformation has opened the door for local entrepreneurs to compete on the global stage.

“I am here to listen to you,” Minister Bharrat told the audience, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting small and medium-scale operators in both the mining and forestry sectors.

He was accompanied by Deputy Commissioners Tasreef Khan of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and Jacques Foster of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), among other senior officials.

PRIDE AND PARTNERSHIPS

Minister Bharrat reminded attendees that Guyana has made major strides despite being a small country, and he encouraged citizens to take pride in their nation’s progress.

“You need to be proud of your country — we have so much to be proud of,” he said.

Touching on the oil and gas industry, the Minister clarified that no single company owns the Stabroek Block outright.

Rather, he said, joint ventures and partnerships are at the heart of the industry’s success. Encouraging Essequibo business owners to adopt a similar model, he advised:

“Together, you have more collateral and a stronger foundation for growth,” he said.

Turning to forestry, the Minister said there are vast opportunities for investors to move beyond raw exports. He urged local entrepreneurs to explore furniture manufacturing and other downstream industries.

“Italy is known for quality furniture — why can’t we in Guyana move toward value-added products like this? There’s a big market locally and regionally,” he pointed out.

He disclosed that new forest concessions will be advertised in February 2026, and applicants will be required to propose at least one value-added project as part of their application.

Highlighting the mining sector’s potential, Minister Bharrat announced the National Airborne Geophysics Survey, launched by the Ministry of Natural Resources in collaboration with Global Venture Consulting.

The US$3 million initiative involves mapping more than 14,000 km² of the country using two specialised aircraft to collect modern geophysical data. This, he said, will update Guyana’s mineral inventory and support sustainable development under the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

He further revealed that the GGMC will soon conduct a mining lottery in Region Two, allocating 30 small mining blocks exclusively to Essequibo residents. Each block will measure roughly 1,200 acres, though some may be subdivided to benefit more applicants.

“You don’t need a large piece of land to find gold — you just need a rich piece of land,” the Minister remarked, assuring that successful miners will have the chance to expand once they demonstrate progress and discipline.

Minister Bharrat reiterated his ministry’s dedication to helping small miners thrive. “Mining is an exciting and profitable venture,” he said, “but it also requires patience, discipline, and a willingness to learn.”

Minister Bharrat reported that Guyana’s oil output now stands at approximately 932,000 barrels per day. Under the revised Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), royalties have increased from 2 per cent to 10 per cent, and oil companies are now required to pay taxes, a major shift from the previous framework.

Before concluding, Minister Bharrat extended congratulations to the newly elected Regional Chairman, Devin Mohan, commending his leadership and vision for Region Two.

Chairman Mohan, in his remarks, expressed appreciation for the Minister’s outreach and encouraged participants to speak openly about the challenges they face, assuring that the Regional Administration will continue working with the Ministry to address them.

Among those contributing to the discussion were miner and logger Rupan Ramotar, who thanked the Minister for the engagement and requested better access roads to mining areas, and Toshao David Wilson of Akawini, who proposed establishing a joiner shop in his community.