Latest update November 8th, 2024 1:00 AM
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Chinese-owned bulk fuel operations halted
-company looking to capture mining market
A multi-million-dollar bulk fuel importation operation on the East Bank of
The Falls gas station on the East Bank of Demerara.
Demerara, is on hold with Government asking the Chinese owners to dismantle an unauthorized wharf construction.
According to Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, the operation called “Falls” and located at Coverden, reportedly built a larger-than-authorized wharf.
Officials from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) reportedly unearthed the unauthorized works during inspections. The matter was reported to the Ministry with the Chinese company ordered to do corrective works.
The fuel operation is reportedly associated with Rong-An Inc., which came into the spotlight more than two years ago after applying for fishing licences. The application had come under fire from local fishing companies who feared that the fishing industry, already facing problems from over-fishing, will be further threatened.
On Thursday, Minister Patterson, during his Ministry’s end-of-year press conference, in fielding
The terminal facilities
questions about the operations of Falls, said that the company is registered to Chinese nationals who applied for fuel importation licences. The approvals are pending.
The company had also applied to build a wharf with provisional approval granted.
The Minister said that engineers of MARAD reported that the wharf was not constructed in accordance with plans submitted. The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has also been informed.
Patterson made it clear that “Falls” will have to fix the wharf problem, which extends some distance into the Demerara River, before his Ministry starts to review anything else.
The construction had raised eyebrows with at least eight large storage tanks already constructed, and wharf facilities almost in place.
He said that from his understanding, the company came here initially to conduct fishing activities and was intending to use the fuel facilities for the vessels it would have brought here.
The granting of those fishing licences back in 2013 was halted after industry operators objected to the previous Government.
Rong An, nevertheless, appeared to have forged ahead with the bulk fuel facilities at Coverden. The company wants to sell fuel to miners, the Minister said.
In 2013, Rong An launched a US$4M shipyard at Coverden.
Zhanghao shipyard is reportedly owned by Tresey Su, who is also said to be heavily involved in the logging and mining industry.
Su is said to be a naturalized Guyanese.
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