Texas firm looks at US$10M project here
by Sharon Lall
INTERKILN, a Texas-based industrial and engineering corporation involved in developing ceramic and other clay products, is gearing for long-term investment in Guyana. Company President, Mr Lyle E. Haber, accompanied by INTERKILN Chairman, Mr Elmer T. Salgo and INTERKILN attorney-at-law, Mr Randy Depoo, earlier this week met President Bharrat Jagdeo and Political Adviser to the President, Mr Kellawan Lall on a proposed project here. The company has expressed keen interest in establishing a vitreous china sanitary ware production plant in Guyana. It proposes to produce annually some 250,000 pieces of sanitary ware products such as toilet bowls and sinks, mainly for export to the Caribbean and North America, officials said. They said that over the years, INTERKILN has expanded its operations from the U.S. to Europe and Southern Africa. Plants were constructed to manufacture bricks, grinding wheels and technical ceramics, among other items. More than 200 INTERKILN facilities are manufacturing quality products in 30 countries, according to the firm. Haber yesterday told the Chronicle the project here is expected to cost about US$10M and it will create jobs for 250 mostly skilled and semi-skilled Guyanese. The firm recently entered into a joint arrangement with Trinidad Aggregate Products Limited for the production of ceramic tiles. Haber said INTERKILN, which acts as a "technical partner" in the twin-island republic deal signed three months ago, has begun construction of its plant at Longdenville in South Trinidad. It was felt that a sanitary ware manufacturing facility in Guyana, where there is an abundance of rich minerals, would create some "synergy" with the ceramics tile operation in neighbouring Trinidad, he added. Haber said INTERKILN started considering Guyana as an investment opportunity a few months ago and was looking at the possibility of developing a plant here. "We will be doing a technical and economic feasibility study on the project. (We) are in the process of gathering information and data to carry out this study," he told the Chronicle. Once all the finances are arranged the project to commence work can legitimately be signed within six to eight months, he explained. "I am expecting the Guyana project to be a successful project for the shareholders," Haber said, adding that talks on the deal have been going well. INTERKILN top brass are seeking local investors for a joint partnership in the deal. Haber, due to leave for the U.S. today, plans to meet the private sector at a later date. Head of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), Mr Deochand Narine, said the agency was working to provide information to assist in INTERKILN's feasibility study, prior to the project being formally presented for any request for concessions. Narine said he has already put out some "feelers" for a desirable location for the plant, which would be suitable in either Berbice or Linden. The ongoing feasibility study, which can last for 30 days, will determine whether INTERKILN can proceed with the investment and if it is in a margin where the Government of Guyana can grant it additional concessions for its success. "It appears to be a very attractive project, so we will pursue it as hard as we can from our end... "Given the fact that most of the raw materials are located in Guyana, I don't see any problem with this project not being feasible...We are pushing investment and...we will give it special consideration," Narine said.
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