Linden bauxite industry officially handed over to Chinese
Guyana Chronicle
May 9, 2007
PRIME Minister Samuel Hinds and Managing Director of BOSAI, Mr. Yuan Zhilun shook hands on the lawns of Watooka House, Mackenzie, Sunday to symbolically signal the official handing over of the Linden bauxite industry to the Chinese firm.
Reporting on the event, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said the previously known Omai Bauxite Mining Incorporated (OBMI) will now be called BOSAI Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated (BMGGI).
Mr. Hinds remarked that, with BOSAI as a partner, Guyana has the chance of redeveloping the bauxite resources during the next ten years.
He expressed confidence in BOSAI, referring to it as young, vigorous and rapidly growing with a range of bauxite, alumina, aluminium and related products.
GINA said both the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and the Interim Management Committee of (IMC) Linden also welcomed BOSAI but highlighted several developmental expectations.
These include good corporate behaviour from its officials, compliance with all of the municipal by-laws and general contribution towards the economic and other development of the township, GINA said.
The agency said Chairman of the IMC, Mr. Orin Gordon and RDC Chairman, Mr. Mortimer Mingo mentioned some of what they expect and alluded to the failure of two predecessors, CAMBIOR and IAM Gold.
Zhilun assured, however, that the new BOSAI investment will be of benefit to both countries as China will receive the required amount of bauxite needed to put the RASC variety back on the world market and create better paying jobs in Linden.
Mr. Hinds and officials of BOSAI on Monday toured Linden to familiarise the latter with the mining town in which they will be working for the next several years.
Among the many locations to which they went were the old aluminium plant at Lower Kara Kara and the administrative office that was used by the Linden Mining Company (LINMINE) secretariat, GINA reported.
The touring party met members of the media and a few residents of Linden with whom they engaged in discussions on the future benefits of the new entity, GINA said.
The agency said BOSAI officials have already held talks with the IMC on developing Linden and have moved to repair a road at Watooka.