The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) has granted a large-scale Quarry Licence (QL) for the extraction and processing of rock to produce boulders and various sizes of aggregate in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
The licence was issued to Black Jaguar Investment Group Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the El Dorado Trading Group of Companies, on December 1, 2020. It is for operations along the Mazaruni River in the vicinity of Marshall Falls. This QL covers an aerial extent of 7086 acres, making it the single largest QL in existence – not just in Guyana but the Caribbean region.
The combined acreage of the other existing QLs in Guyana is less than the size in the QL obtained by Black Jaguar Investment Group Inc.
In a statement on Sunday, the company said the area covered by this QL hosts deposits of granite and gabbro type rocks.
“These rocks are excellent for use as first-class aggregate in the construction industry. The elevations within 75 per cent of the area enclosed by the QL are greater than 200 feet, the maximum elevations exceed 300 feet. The 300 feet contour covers approximately 40 per cent of the aerial extent of the QL. The elevation at the Mazaruni Riverbank is less than 50 feet. The overburden in this area is usually less than 40 feet. This leaves approximately 200 feet of rock standing above the level of the riverbank which can be easily extracted,” a missive from the company detailed.
It went on to explain that the aerial extent of the 200 feet contour line with the adjustments for the riverbank overburden indicates that there will be approximately 300 million tons of rock available for extraction above the level of the riverbank.
“Unlike the other quarries in operation the company will be engaging international quarry operators to set up multiple sites of extraction and production to maximise the output of the quarry to meet the current and expected demand in the local and regional economy. Other quarries in Guyana have a very limited approach to extraction and production, they operate only a single extraction and processing system no matter the size of the QL and the availability of the resource,” it added.
To this end, Black Jaguar Investment Group Inc said it plans to revolutionise the way the quarry industry operates in Guyana and to solve the chronic shortage of supply that has resulted in a resource-rich country having to import aggregate to meet demand.
“The proposed facility will be developed using state-of-the-art technology to maximise capacity and operational efficiency. The target for initial production is 20,000 tons of aggregate per week.
The chronic shortage of aggregate has long been causing Government infrastructure projects to run years beyond the projected deadline for completion. No longer will Government or private construction be delayed due to shortages in the supply of aggregate,” it stated.
This highly efficient, new, large scale operation will allow the company to supply products to the local market in a timely manner and at very competitive prices to support the rapidly expanding development in Guyana, the company assured.
