Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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Gold miner loses $70M as imported containers turn up empty
– blames Chinese chemical company
A local gold mining investor is now counting over $70M in losses after the two imported containers which should have accommodated boxes of mercury, turned up empty.
Some of the empty containers.
The materials were purchased from a Company in China called Qingdao Basite Chemical Industry, and shipped by ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Limited. It was received in Guyana via John Fernandes Limited.
A representative of the local importer told Kaieteur News yesterday that when the first container was opened at the John Fernandes Wharf, it was done in the presence of Customs Officers, representatives of John Fernandes, and relatives of the importer. The container which was expected to have housed 35 boxes of bottles containing mercury was clearly sealed.
Security camera footage has cleared the air as far as John Fernandes Limited is concerned. Kaieteur News was provided with these videos which showed that the containers were not tampered with.
Meanwhile, closer examinations revealed that the 35 boxes were empty. Of this number, 20 of the boxes contained bottles, but even those were empty.
Upon arrival to Guyana, some of the mercury was expected to have been sold while the rest would have facilitated the importer’s gold mining business.
After this “heartrending” discovery was made, the importers made immediate contact with Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Khurshid Sattaur, who subsequently granted permission for the importer to examine their goods before it had to be processed.
Processing fees were paid on the first opened container, but with the permission from Sattaur, the importer did not have to pay to examine the second container.
This shipment contained larger quantity of mercury; 40 boxes. This too was also sealed empty.
Kaieteur News was told that the transaction was done via an agent in China. The agent was “fully” researched and hired to recommend a “trusted” company to provide the mercury.
The embattled importer does not have proof of where the breakdown lies, but is confident that the chemical company is responsible.
The importer is in the process of penning a letter to the Chinese Embassy, the Office of the President, and the chemical company.
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