Guyana still eyeing alumina plant revival – President Ali

…fueled by 2nd Gas-to-Energy Project, Suriname collaboration

President Dr Irfaan Ali has affirmed that plans for an alumina plant are still under consideration as the Government explores options tied to the second Gas-to-Energy (GtE) Project. These options include potential collaboration with Suriname to develop the shared bauxite deposit between the two countries.
During his year-end press conference, President Ali addressed questions about the Government’s plans for an alumina plant. He emphasised that the GtE initiative would play a crucial role in making the alumina plant a viable endeavour.
“As we speak about the second gas to shore project that we’re projecting for Berbice, we’re looking at an industrial park to support that Gas-to-Shore Project. Between Guyana and Suriname, there is a huge deposit of Bauxite. With the cost of energy coming down with natural gas, it then makes the alumina plant viable.”
“Because energy is an important part of the business decision there. So that is part of what we’re looking at for Berbice, Region Six. In the industrial hub and the second gas development that will come there. That is one of the options that is available,” the President said.
Ali explained that an alumina plant is one of the possibilities the Government is mulling for Berbice, to go along with the gas-powered industrial hub that will be a critical component of Phase Two of the GtE Project.

“There are many options on the table. We have to see, first of all, and we’re examining all the data, all the possibilities. As I said, there can be the possibility of an industrial hub. There will be need for more power, to power that industrial hub. There’s the possibility of the Bauxite.”
“And at some point, we’ll have to have a very pointed discussion with Suriname on how we combine our gas resources to make it more efficient and to build a very scalable sector. And that will allow us to look at the Bauxite from both Guyana and Suriname to see how we can add value to that.”
In addition, the Head of State noted the potential for agro-processing facilities and a deep-water port. As a matter of fact, a deep-water port would be essential to aid in the necessary transportation and ease of shipping.
“Northern Brazil connected to the Deep-Water Port. And discussions are ongoing with that. We have a working group with Brazil. We have two different platforms through which we’re examining this. The Afri-EXIM (African Export–Import) Bank and the Government of Brazil.”
“They are all looking at different aspects of this, from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and the middle east. So, we’re very sure and very confident, even if it requires Government support, that we will move to the Deep-Water port and we will have the infrastructure to support this, of which the gas and the value that comes out of gas will be an integral part.”
President Ali also expressed hope that by the time the next energy conference rolls around, a plan with the various options surrounding Phase Two of the GtE Project can be available.
Suriname has been forging ahead with its first offshore petroleum development project. Vice President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo had indicated that this opens up potential opportunities for the two neighbouring countries to collaborate on jointly developing their respective gas resources.
According to Jagdeo, while Suriname’s offshore project will focus mainly on developing the oil resources there, it nevertheless opens up the possibilities for the two countries to jointly explore developing their shared gas resources.
Guyana has over 300 million tonnes of bauxite in its reserve. The last functional aluminum plant Guyana had, which was located in Wismar, Linden, closed its doors since 1981. Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat had previously indicated that investors were eyeing Tarakuli bauxite deposit near Orealla, in Region Six.
He had stated that Tarakuli is one of the largest bauxite deposits remaining in Guyana that is of high quality and untouched. This, he had said, was another reason for the country to establish an alumina plant. (G3)