Over $100M to be invested in sawmill projects

More than $100 million is set to be invested in two sawmill projects in Guyana, with Acarai Logging Inc proposing an $88 million sawmill and value-added processing facility along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway and Y Alli’s Sawmill planning a $20 million investment to expand and strengthen its existing operations at Hand en Veldt, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD). According to project documents, Acarai Logging Inc is proposing the creation of a sawmill set-up and value-added processing facility at Madewini Creek and Kuru Kururu on the eastern side of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway. The proposed site spans approximately 7.5 acres, with the sawmill facility occupying an area measuring 50 metres by 15 metres. Other planned infrastructure includes a generator room, workshop, one wooden house with a washroom and toilet, and two container houses with two sets of toilets connected to septic tanks. The documents noted that the site was previously used for sand mining, reducing the impact on existing vegetation. The company said the proposed project involves “a total capital investment of approximately $88 million over a three-year implementation period.” The investment will cover land preparation, infrastructure development, machinery procurement and environmental safeguards. The facility is also expected to include “a 50 × 15 metre prefabricated steel industrial shed, generator room, solar power systems, container and wooden housing for staff, septic tanks and workshops.” On environmental management, the project states that waste oil generated from servicing equipment will be reused. Meanwhile, Y Alli’s Sawmill is proposing a $20 million investment at its existing business in Hand en Veldt, Mahaica. Project documents describe the operation as playing “a critical role in processing timber into marketable wood products, supporting both local industry and sustainable forest utilisation.” The company stated that its primary objective is to ensure that sawmill operations are conducted efficiently, safely and in compliance with all relevant environmental and regulatory standards. The operation serves as “a key component of the forest-to-market value chain, converting harvested logs into sawn timber for construction, furniture, and other commercial uses.” The sawmill’s key components include a log pond and storage area, debarking and primary sawmill operations under a 50×50 mill shed, secondary processing and finishing lines, wood chip and sawdust handling systems, maintenance and administrative buildings and truck loading and unloading areas. According to the project description, the operation is capable of processing between 20,000 and 30,000 board metres of logs per month. It is equipped with one resaw, one planer, one skid steer and one 150 kilovolt-amperes (kVA) generator.
The document states that dressed and rough lumber are produced from timber species including Tatabu, Torinario, Karatie, Silverballi, Dukalie, Purpleheart and Greenheart. Logs are sourced from logging concessionaires in Ituni, Kwakwani and Mabura before being transported to the site by hired log trucks.
The logs are offloaded into a log pond capable of holding approximately 300 to 430 cubic metres of logs before being transported to the mill for processing. After sawing, the boards are further processed by an edger, producing both dressed and rough lumber.
Utilities are supplied through Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), a generator and One Communication Network, while solar lights are used to provide lighting for the dwelling house, office and mill shed.
The operation currently employs two persons who work from 08:00h to 17:00h Monday to Saturday. Workers are provided with personal protective equipment, including gloves, visibility vests, helmets, goggles and steel-tip boots, while a first aid kit and transport arrangements are available for emergencies.