Guyana poised to export Manganese after decades

Apr 28, 2012 News

Reunion Manganese Incorporated is expected to install a pilot plant at its Matthews Ridge, North West district site by next year April.
Full commercial operations are expected to begin by the fourth quarter of 2014.
Reunion was awarded four prospecting licences (PLs) by Government to conduct exploration and development activities for manganese in the North West District.

Chief Operating Officer of Reunion Manganese, Joachim Bayah,

Reunion Manganese Incorporated’s executive chairman, David Fennell, who met with President Donald Ramotar on Monday, noted that the construction will begin by August and the plant will facilitate the production and shipment of commercial manganese.
According to Joachim Bayah, Chief Operating Officer, the targeted markets are to give feedback to the company, after which the final feasibility study will be filed for approval, making way for the actual construction of the plant. In addition, an engineering group is designing the pilot plant.
The primary use of manganese ore is in production of alloys for steel making, in addition to other uses in non-ferrous alloys and in dry cell batteries. Eighty per cent of the world resources are in South Africa.
Reunion manganese incorporated was awarded four prospecting licences by government to conduct manganese exploration and development activities in the North West district.
The company was granted the mineral licence in 2010 that sets the framework for the continued prospecting by the company, which is gearing up to set up a minimum-sized mining operation in Matthews Ridge, Region One, with the hope that its prospecting would discover enough manganese reserves to enlarge its operations.
The prospecting licences (PLs) cover an area of 45,729 acres and are centered on the abandoned manganese mines at Matthews Ridge and Pipiani which were operated by a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation from 1962 to 1968.
The company’s operations would require the rebuilding of 50 kilometres of the abandoned railway line, linking Matthews Ridge to Port Kaituma, since manganese would have to be transported by train to that port for export.
Additionally, the 30-mile stretch of road between the two communities would also be upgraded and maintained by the company.  Government has committed $50M towards this project and work will start shortly.