The Oko West Gold Project, located in Region Seven of Guyana, currently employs a significant number of local workers. As of now, 946 of the 1,193 employees are Guyanese, and this number is expected to rise as construction progresses. President Dr. Irfaan Ali shared this information during a community engagement event in Bartica on Monday. He indicated that the workforce is projected to expand to 2,100 by December 2026, with most of the new positions anticipated to be filled by residents from the region.
The project is owned by Canadian mining company G Mining Ventures (GMIN) and is currently under construction, with plans to commence production in 2027. President Ali encouraged local residents to take advantage of the employment and business opportunities that are emerging as a result of ongoing investments in the area.
Reports indicate that GMIN aims to employ up to 2,500 workers for the development of the Oko West operation. The company has initiated recruitment efforts across the country, including a job fair held earlier this year at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), which targeted both skilled and semi-skilled workers. As construction continues, GMIN is looking for workers in various fields, including:
- Construction
- Mining
- Transportation
- Maintenance
- Hospitality
Additionally, President Ali mentioned ongoing infrastructure developments associated with the project. The Oko wharf in the Kartabo/Batavia area is expected to become operational this month, with loading and offloading activities anticipated to begin by August. Other facilities, such as administrative offices, a welcome center, camp accommodations, and a sports ground, are projected to be completed by September.
Exploration, drilling, and sampling activities are also ongoing across the concession area. GMIN aims for an annual gold production of approximately 350,000 ounces once the mine is operational. The company secured a 20-year mining license for the project from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) in December 2025. The Oko West deposit is estimated to contain 5.4 million ounces of gold. Earlier this year, G Mining Ventures completed its acquisition of G2 Goldfields, enabling the combination of the Oko West and Oko-Ghanie projects into a larger mining operation. International reports suggest that the combined project could eventually produce over 500,000 ounces of gold annually. Region Seven remains a prominent mining district in Guyana, with 2,524 active mining properties. In 2025, small and medium-scale miners declared about 94,000 ounces of gold, while large-scale operator Zijin Mining reported approximately 165,000 ounces.
Source: snn.gy
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