More fuel reservoirs needed as Bartica experiences economic boom – Mayor

The fuel market in Bartica in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) has returned to a state of normalcy following a two-day period of low supply, which disrupted several industries including transportation, the services sector and mining.
In an interview with Guyana Times, on Tuesday the town’s mayor Anthony Murray revealed that last Friday the regions fuel reservoirs had dropped to an alarmingly low level.
However, due to intervention from Central Government, a shipment of gasoline was sent to the region which arrived late Saturday afternoon.
“But subsequent to that, the government and the GuyOil made available a shipment of more or less gasoline and that came in the Saturday afternoon at 2pm, so the service station there was adequately supplied with fuel So we’re back to normal,” the mayor explained.

While there were no official reports from service providers in the region as to what led to the fuel shortage last week, the mayor attributed the situation to a boom of economic activities within the township.
For instance, he said mining activities have been reinvigorated, resulting in a higher demand for fuel from Bartica considered the country’s gateway to the hinterland. The mayor also noted that there has been an increase in vehicles traversing the towns roadways, owing not only to an increase in economic activities but also regional tourism.
“Well, because they had no shortage of supply throughout the country I don’t know if there’s an explosion of the use of gasoline, since we have these large-scale mining that is coming on stream not far from Bartica so there’s a demand for a large amount of gasoline. And then you have the medium scale, and then you have certain quarries that was existing around the river in areas of Bartica.” Murray Said.
He added, “We have a large intake or purchase of vehicles in Bartica, more so the gasoline vehicles, because it’s easy to get access to the bank to get a mortgage or a loan to purchase a car and also the dealers are giving you a very good deal so there’s an inflow of, I think every week you have two or three vehicles coming on the ferry.” The mayor highlighted.

Currently one of the of the largest gold mines in Guyana is being constructed in region 7 (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) located in the Oko West area the new US$1.5 billion gold project has a projected mine life of 13 years, and is expected to re-energize Guyana’s mining sector with the production of 350,000 ounces of gold annually. The project, which would come on stream in 2027, is situated some 95 kilometres southwest of Georgetown and measures approximately 44 square kilometres.
In light of these and other projects within the region the mayor highlighted that service providers may soon need to bolster their fuel storage capacity by expanding the current fuel reservoirs.
“So, what might not happen is the service station then have to expand on their holding area for gasoline. Since you have the demand for gasoline from mining, the large-scale mining that is now taking place, and also the explosion of purchase of gasoline vehicle in Bartica,” he said.