Bauxite Company Ordered To Clean Up Oil Spill In Guyana River

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Mar. 31, (CMC) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered the Chinese-owned bauxite mining company, Bosai Minerals, to clean up used oil that was accidentally released into the Demerara River and surrounding waters .

In a statement, today, the EPA instructed the Linden-based bauxite company to start the clean up exercise, as investigations and the monitoring of the facility continues.

The EPA also noted that the bauxite company would be punished for the environmental pollution.

On Wednesday, the EPA received a report, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, regarding a report of the release of used oil into surrounding drainage waterways and the Demerara River by Bosai Minerals Group (Guyana) Inc.

The EPA says its investigation revealed that used oil flowed from a concrete drainage network in the compound of the Bosai Mineral Group, leading to a nearby trench and, ultimately, into the Demerara River.

The area containing the used oil tank has an oil-water separator in place to capture spilt oil.

“However, according to an official from Bosai, used oil was inadvertently released into the surface drain instead of the oil-water separator.

The Environmental Department of Bosai stated, they were unaware that used oil was being released from their facility and only became aware of the matter, late Wednesday, when it was brought to their attention.