He said the GGMC is also working with ESSAR Steel of India to re-evaluate potential manganese ores in Guyana and any iron or manganese found could be used in its steel mill going up in Trinidad.

In a statement on developments in the mining sector for which he has responsibility, Mr. Hinds Tuesday said he was pleased with ongoing prospecting for iron ore, bauxite, uranium and manganese.

He reported that British-based BHP Billiton, in its agreement with Goldstone Resources Inc., is advancing its evaluation of the Pakaraima laterites as a source of bauxite feed to an alumina plant.

The Prime Minister also reported that the geographical reconnaissance programmes of two groups pursuing uranium ore were ongoing and interest was being shown by a third.

He added that there has been a new interest in industrial minerals such as sand, clay and diamond stone for cutting into tiles.

Petroleum, oil and gas remain “tantalisingly exciting,” Mr. Hinds observed as the government looks forward to offshore drilling assigned by the United Nations Convention on the Sea.

A Trinidadian company, he said, is to drill several wells along the coastal areas of Demerara and Berbice and in the Takutu basin in the Rupununi, while the GGMC is to drill at three places of historical reports of gas emissions in the North West, which could be originating from decayed recently buried vegetation but which may have a petroleum origin.

The Prime Minister, however, cautioned that historically, a natural resource which brings riches by itself has not been found, recalling that a report of World Mining in the 1980s pointed out that the Canadian-owned Omai mine would not have been viable if wages and salaries were not 8% to 10% of costs as against the 20% to 30% in North America or Australia.

He said he is heartened by the amount of prospecting and upgrading of operations within the mining sector.

Pointing to the record 161,283 ounces of gold produced by non-Omai producers up to the end of last month, he urged small and medium-scale miners to increase production to 200,000 ounces by the end of this year.

“Prospecting at a number of large-scale gold properties continues to yield exciting and hopeful results, amongst which are Aurora, Tassawini, Million Mountain, Peter’s Mine and an underground extension at Omai. The GGMC is expecting to collaborate with a medium-scale miner in the North West District, in demonstrating safe ways of tunnel-mining at medium-scale,” Mr. Hinds reported.

He stated that the government wants the mining sector, particularly small and medium-scale miners, to be profitable and successful and in this respect urged the need for being alert and finding ways to reduce costs.

“We can and must learn something and get better every day. Most costs occur from lost time when not all that is required for production is available. More predictable, reliable, convenient transportation would be a boost. Government, working with the GGMC continues to support the development and improvement of roads and other infrastructure,” he said.

The Prime Minister recalled that during last year, small and medium-scale miners, after approaching President Bharrat Jagdeo, were granted another year of grace for the enforcement of the laws forbidding the discharge of muddy waters into the environment.

However, he expressed satisfaction that several miners have been bringing their operations in compliance with the laws, noting that mining must be sustainable and not impact negatively on persons in the neighbourhood.

Mr. Hinds said that through a programme of exchange visits with miners from other countries, local miners have been exposed to improved gold recovery systems at the small and medium scale level which are environmentally friendly.