– meet the needs of forthcoming infrastructure developments
With the upcoming national infrastructure developments, the government is working with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to improve construction aggregate production to over one million tonnes for 2021. Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat said recently that the forthcoming plans of the government for this year will see an increase in demand for the materials. As such, production rates must also be increased. The production rate for playful substances has been well below demand over the past few years, Minister Bharrat noted. For 2020, only 650,000 tonnes of materials were produced. The administration of Dr. Irfaan Ali is promoting several infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life for all Guyanese, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported. According to DPI, President Ali has committed to the construction of the new Demerara River Bridge and the new four-lane road from that bridge to Parika, East Bank Essequibo. Hundreds of communities across the country are expected to see new and improved road networks along with other infrastructure projects.
Through cooperation, the Suriname and Guyana Governments will also embark on the construction of the first ever bridge across the Corentyne River, connecting the two South American countries. Bosch’s Ogle to Haags road project is also on the cards.
A massive housing campaign is also underway targeting around 5,000 homes for this year. The Government is also planning to allocate around 10,000 housing lots by the end of this year.
“So the demand for these materials will increase tremendously – for lumber, for stone, for sand, for cement. So we are working with the GGMC to increase productivity, to double our production to over a million tonnes this year, ”Minister Bharrat is quoted as saying by the DPI.
He said the government will also grant licenses to a number of companies that have applied to produce the aggregates to meet impending demand. President Dr. Ali himself, late last year, will see an increase in demand for quarry materials and construction and labor with the upcoming developments.