Govt orders restart of Romanex Exploration

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has ordered the reactivation of the mining licence of Romanex Guyana Exploration Ltd, paving the way for the company to undertake exploration and mining activities in the Marudi Mountain area of Mining District Number Six, Rupununi.

According to a release from the Natural Resources Ministry, the area had been characterised by irregular mining, with persons occupying lands in the area after operations of Romanex had ceased some time ago. The Minister’s decision to approve the operations follows a process of verifications, meetings and engagements held between the mining company, the Rupununi Miners Association (RMA) and the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO) on the best way forward.

More than 300 small-scale gold miners who had been operating in and around the Marudi Mountain area had called on the Government to take urgent action to regularise their operations in light of recent moves by the Canadian-owned company to resume operations in the area. Additionally, the residents of South Rupununi have lodged complaints about the illicit movement of people, weapons and narcotics in the area.

As a result of this call, and the concerns and complaints made, the Natural Resources Ministry appointed Major General (Retired) Joe Singh to hold mediation discussions between the aggrieved parties during the period April 22 to 25, 2016 and an agreement was successfully brokered between the various stakeholders.