-Minister Bharrat says will answer before end of week
Calls for greater scrutiny of uranium exploration activities in Guyana have intensified, with We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) parliamentarian Dr Andre Lewis also questioning whether the country is adequately prepared to regulate the sector.
Contacted by Kiskadee Watch yesterday, Lewis, who serves on Parliament’s Natural Resources Sectoral Committee, said the proposed development of a uranium project in Region Seven is a matter of “serious national interest” and should be subject to close public and regulatory oversight.
“Even if uranium exploration can bring economic openings, like investment, jobs, and future income, it also brings environmental, health, safety and rules-based issues that are not comparable to what you usually see with more traditional mining work in Guyana,” Lewis said.
His comments come days after Canadian company U92 Energy Corp announced that it had received approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange and TSX Venture Exchange and completed the acquisition of a comprehensive historical technical and exploration database for the Kurupung Uranium Project in Region Seven.
The company has said the acquisition strengthens the project’s technical foundation ahead of an updated mineral resource estimate and an inaugural drilling programme.
The development has triggered growing debate about Guyana’s regulatory readiness and whether sufficient public disclosure and consultation have occurred regarding uranium exploration activities.
On Monday APNU Member of Parliament and Natural Resources spokesman Sharma Solomon., argued that Guyana has yet to demonstrate the institutional strength, regulatory competence and transparency necessary to responsibly oversee a uranium industry.
“The central question is not whether uranium exists beneath our soil,” Solomon said. “The central question is whether Guyana possesses the institutional strength, regulatory competence and national preparedness required to manage such a resource responsibly,” he said in a statement at the time.
Lewis echoed many of those concerns, stressing that uranium differs significantly from other minerals because of its radioactive nature.
“Understanding that uranium is radioactive, any exploration, and if it ever moves forward into extraction, needs to be handled under the strictest international requirements plus clear transparency and strong checks by the proper regulatory agencies,” he said.
He argued that particular attention must be paid to environmental impact assessments, waste management systems, water quality protection, worker safety, emergency response mechanisms and the possible effects on Indigenous communities and nearby residents.
“As a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, I feel that the Government, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant authorities should make sure that all approvals, consultations and monitoring work are rigorous and transparent,” Lewis told this publication.
“The public also needs to be properly informed about what uranium mining actually involves, the likely hazards that could come with it, and the safeguards that will be put in place,” he added.
Questions
The issue has also prompted questions from Kiskadee Watch about the approvals granted for the project and the regulatory framework governing uranium exploration.
Questions submitted to Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat sought information on what licences or permissions had been granted to U92 Energy or its predecessors by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), whether Guyana has a policy governing uranium exploration and development, why no public consultation or announcement preceded the company’s exploration plans, and whether the minister would support a review of the project by Parliament’s Natural Resources Sectoral Committee.
Kiskadee Watch also asked what technical, environmental and safety assessments had been conducted before exploration activities were approved.
Minister Bharrat subsequently indicated that a response would be forthcoming.
“I will issue a statement on this matter before the week is out,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, questions submitted by Kiskadee Watch to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Executive Director Kemraj Parsram had received no response up to press time.
Among the questions posed were whether the EPA had received and approved any environmental application relating to U92’s uranium exploration activities, whether it had determined if an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was required, what permits were in place for activities including drill pad construction, camps, road works and drilling, and whether the agency had conducted inspections to determine compliance with environmental requirements.
Broader policy
Lewis said the project raises broader policy issues that Guyana must confront before exploration progresses further.
“This matter also pulls in wider policy concerns, like whether Guyana is really ready, in a legal and institutional way, to oversee the exploration and any potential future production of radioactive minerals,” he said.
“That is a space that may need more policy shaping, deeper technical capacity, and renewed public discussion as the initiative moves forward, step by step,” he further said.
The WIN parliamentarian also outlined a series of questions he believes require answers from government agencies and regulators.
Among them are whether the EPA has established specific regulatory requirements for uranium exploration and mining; what radiation monitoring and waste-management standards would apply; what consultations have been conducted with communities in the Kurupung area; whether Guyana has legislation specifically addressing uranium extraction and radioactive waste; what role the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) may play in supporting Guyana’s regulatory framework; and what environmental bonds or financial assurances would be required should the project advance beyond exploration.
Lewis further said he is seeking assurances regarding the technical capacity of Guyana’s regulatory institutions, the adequacy of consultations with affected communities and whether the country’s legal and environmental framework is sufficiently developed to oversee a uranium industry.
“As a member of the Natural Resources Committee, I want information and assurances on whether Guyana’s regulatory institutions currently possess the technical capacity to oversee radioactive mineral exploration and eventual mining; whether affected communities have been adequately informed and consulted; and whether the legal and environmental framework is sufficiently developed before the project advances beyond exploration,” the parliamentarian said.
Solomon likewise had argued that Guyana risks repeating mistakes made in other extractive sectors if major decisions continue to be taken without sufficient transparency.
“For too long, Guyanese have been asked to embrace major resource developments before being provided with the information necessary to fully assess their implications,” he said.
He also referenced concerns raised over environmental monitoring and regulatory oversight in the petroleum sector and criticised delays in the functioning of Parliament’s Natural Resources Sectoral Committee.
“These licences continue to be issued, transferred and renewed. Agreements continue to be negotiated and contracts continue to be signed. Strategic decisions continue to be taken. The committee is still to set its first meeting date,” Solomon said.
Both parliamentarians stressed that any future decisions on uranium development must balance economic opportunities with environmental protection, public health and community interests.
“Ultimately, any call about uranium mining in Guyana has to juggle economic development with environmental protection, public health, the community interests and long-term national sustainability,” Lewis said.
“In practice it’s never just one thing; it also involves public trust and long-term planning,” he added.
For Solomon, the broader issue remains one of governance and accountability.
“The conversation before us is larger than uranium,” he said. “It is about governance, accountability, and whether Guyana is prepared to manage its expanding resource wealth in a manner that protects both present and future generations.”
Discussion