30,000 tonnes of scrap metal up for grabs

Oct 17, 2013 News

As manganese mining moves closer to becoming a reality at Matthew’s Ridge, Region One, a major project is under way to move 30,000 tonnes of scrap metal from the area.
It will probably be the biggest deal for any scrap metal company that manages to grab the contract. It will be worth millions of dollars.
The scrap metal includes unused machinery, steel frames from building plants, rails and tracks and cars, locomotives and earth moving equipment. The project is being coordinated by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and Reunion Manganese Inc.
Firms interested in removing the scrap metal have until October 28, to submit bids to the GGMC, a notice in the state-owned Guyana Chronicle said yesterday.
Reunion, a Canadian-owned company, has unveiled plans to develop the Matthew’s Ridge mining site. In 2010, the company was awarded four prospecting licenses (PL) to conduct exploration and development activities for manganese in the North West District. The PLs cover an area of 45,729 acres and are centered in and around the abandoned manganese mine at Matthews Ridge and Pipiani, which was operated by a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation from 1962 to 1968.
Reunion has announced plans to invest around US$250M in the coming years and it is projected that annually, up to two million tonnes of manganese will be produced.
The company is also looking to spend money to improve roads along the Matthews Ridge/Port Kaituma/ Arakaka/Pipiani corridor and is even mulling the possibility of building a rail link between Matthews Ridge and Port Kaituma; both Region One areas.
Transporting the mined ore will be a major challenge.