Gold, diamond, manganese, bauxite, and other semi-precious mineral mining makes up a large portion of Guyana’s economy (Andrews). Guyana has the world’s highest concentrations of bauxite that used to produce aluminum with mines concentrated in the northeast coastal portion of the country (Country Studies). Bauxite only accounts for 18% of Guyana’s mining sector (Andrews). 78.2% of Guyana’s mineral sector is made up solely by gold extraction. Along the far north-west rivers of the nation are Guyana’s diamond industry with Belgium and the United Arab Emirates importing around 90% of the nation’s diamonds (Andrews). With mining being a vital component to Guyana’s economy, Guyana has made efforts to lessen the amounts of chemicals, specifically mercury, which is involved in mining. H.E. Robert Persaud, Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment of Guyana, has worked alongside mining corporations in Guyana to make the move to ban mining with mercury possible (The WorldFolio). The Natural Resources and Mining Ministry has also, “launched a 2013-2018 Strategic Framework to reduce degradation caused by the sector as well as implementing codes of practice on mining to decrease the use of mercury,” …show more content…
Persaud states that they have success with boosting their economy from natural resources while protecting the environment by stating, “We have been able to have a healthy convergence of economics in the environment. Whereby unlike others, we have said that we would sustainably manage our natural resources, but also take care of people’s social and economic needs,” (The WorldFolio). Persaud also states for his hopes to work alongside the United States to produce more oil and gas along the nation’s coastlines to further expand the economy. In regards to continuing to make efforts to protect Guyana’s natural resources and the economy, Persaud continues to state that so far it has been, “[h]armonization has allowed us to be much more effective in achieving that balance between environmental management of stability with the issue of economic and social development of those resources,” (The World Folio). With the push for sustainable and green energy as well as environmental conservation, it will be intriguing to see how Guyana continues to develop its environmental protection programs as well as their