Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
2,000 mining concessions up for grabs
The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) would be making 2,000 medium scale parcels available to miners in the six mining districts through auction and lottery on August 11, and August 18, respectively.
This is according to Clinton Williams, Chairman of the Close Area Committee, which was recently resuscitated. The Committee was appointed by Cabinet and it will be overseeing the auction and lottery.
Clinton Williams
Secretary of the Committee, Omkar Lochan, said that the auction for 1,000 medium scale parcels will be held at the Guyana Girl Guides Association building, Brickdam, Georgetown. The areas being auctioned are displayed on maps at GGMC’s head office, mining stations and Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners’ Association office.
Miners have until August 14 to apply for lands that would be awarded in the lottery. The areas are also on display on maps at GGMC head office and mining stations, he added.
The last auction was held in November 2011 while two lotteries were held last year. The impending exercises are important to the mining sector since there seems to be a dip in production.
Miners have blamed low production for the reduced gold being declared.
However, the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO) does not believe that having an auction or lottery would help to improve production.
Simona Broomes, President of GWMO, asserted that the upcoming lottery and auction would not necessarily solve the problem. Broomes said that whatever lands the GGMC would be offering needs to be accessible.
Not all claims issued by GGMC are easily accessible resulting in miners having to invest in land clearing before reaching the area. In addition, there is no guarantee that the lands awarded would have the precious mineral.
But, according to Williams, GGMC is not responsible for constructing roads leading to claims. He said GGMC has responsibility to rehabilitate and construct main access roads in the mining districts.
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