Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
South African firm to explore precious metal refinery
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman
A team from SA Precious Metals (Pty) Ltd, a South African precious metal manufacturing company, is expected to visit Guyana this month to explore the establishment of a refinery to process special metals, including gold.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman told reporters yesterday that the Government intends to move away from utilizing the current lab operated by the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) in the compound of the Guyana Geologies Commission (GGMC).
The lab has been a source for concern in recent weeks, as workers have been exposed to elevated levels of mercury emissions due to the burning of gold to get rid of the mercury.
“The Gold Board is in receipt of a number of proposals for the establishment of a refinery in Guyana. We have been doing this method for decades, but we do believe the time has come for us to look at a long term solution,” Trotman stated.
“Every situation gives rise to opportunities, and so we are strongly looking wholly through Government to take part of this responsibility out of the Government’s hand, and we have an entity that does the burning, the refining as best as possible,” Trotman outlined.
The South African company is being facilitated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Trotman noted that the Government is seeking to get out of the process of burning gold.
Among the considerations for moving away from the GGMC compound is the availability of adequate security, transportation and other measures which will be needed.
The Minister explained that generally, when gold is being moved, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has to be involved to seal the packages. Hence, he stated it is not a simple matter of picking the lab up and moving it from point A to point B.
“We have looked at similar facilities in Surname. We have received proposals from local business persons as well as far away as Dubai, India, the U.S and Canada as well. We are moving in a direction of modernizing this industry,” Trotman stated.
Staffers from both the GGMC and GGB have complained about a spike in mercury, forcing officials to undertake a series of tests and to formulate short term and long term plans to alleviate the problem. Residents who live in the surrounding areas have also complained, but Government has maintained that the level of mercury is not yet at an alarming stage.
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