Canadian gold project in Guyana leads global competition for top construction award

Mar 30, 2026 News

Aerial view of the Oko West Gold Project which is being developed in Region Seven by Canadian firm G Mining Ventures.

(Kaieteur News) – Guyana’s expanding mining sector has gained international attention, with the Oko West Gold Project owned by Canadian firm G Mining Ventures (GMIN) advancing to the semi-finals of the InEight Project Championship – a global competition recognising complex, high-impact construction developments.

The Oko West project is estimated to hold 4.64 million ounces of proven and probable reserves at an average grade of 1.89 grams of gold per tonne. The project is expected to produce about 350,000 ounces of gold annually over a 12.3-year mine life.

The project which is being developed by GMIN in Region Seven, Cuyuni Mining District, was among eight nominees competing in the bracket-style contest, which highlights excellence in planning, execution and innovation across major capital projects worldwide. Oko has now entered the semi-finals and leads with 80% votes of the four projects still in the race.

The competition is catered for InEight customers around the world. Of the nominated projects, those selected projects compete in bracket-style matchups across four rounds of public voting. At the end, the project that best demonstrate construction ingenuity, complexity navigated, or overall impact delivered is crowned champion and celebrated for its outstanding achievement.

GMIN in announcing the nomination described the recognition as a milestone for the project and is encouraging public support as it competes against large-scale developments from the United States, Norway and Australia. Oko West is competing in the semi-finals against projects including the SunZia Wind and Transmission project in the United States, the New Bodø Airport in Norway, and the New England Battery Energy Storage System in Australia.

The Oko West Gold Project is expected to become one of the most significant new mining operations in the region. The project is backed by an initial investment exceeding US$972 million and development will include both open-pit and underground mining, supported by a dedicated 56-megawatt power plant.

Initial construction works has already begun. GMIN is set to commence pre-production open pit mining in the first three months of 2026, with the assembly of the initial mining equipment fleet already underway. Production is expected in 2027 and commercial production anticipated in 2028.

“Through disciplined project management and strong coordination, G Mining Services has maintained steady project momentum while managing supply chain risks and supporting workforce growth. With construction ramping up and major permits secured on schedule, the project continues progressing toward construction completion in 2027 and commercial production beginning in 2028,” InEight shared.

It also outlined that developing a project of this scale in a relatively remote location presents significant logistical challenges.

The firm added, “Limited local supply capacity required the project team to coordinate large volumes of international procurement while managing complex transportation and workforce mobilisation efforts. Successfully navigating these constraints required early planning, structured logistics coordination, and careful alignment with local cultural and business practices to ensure smooth project execution.”

Kaieteur News reported that GMIN has been recognised as one of the Toronto Stock Exchange’s top-performing companies, amid a strong year for gold producers driven by rising prices. In its annual review, La Presse highlighted the robust performance of precious metals companies in 2025, pointing to GMIN as a compelling growth story, citing the company’s execution track record and the clear path forward for its flagship Oko West Gold Project in Guyana.

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G Mining Services, Guyana Gold, InEight Project Championship, Oko West Gold Project

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