Photo depicting the abandoned alumina plant in Mackenzie, Linden. Source: Gordon Mosley (Facebook.com)
Guyana has a large bauxite reserve of 350 million tonnes of calcined bauxite that can be found in major mining areas such as Linden, Kawkwani and South of Georgetown. Bauxite is a mineral found in the ground that is used to make alumina which is then turned into aluminum that can be used to produce many aluminum products such as ships, trains, vehicles, utensils and components used in the assembly or spacecraft, window frames, household and industrial items, electronics and even high rise buildings; I am pretty sure if you take a look around you can identify at least ten items you own that is made of aluminum.
The Beginning of a New Venture
In 1961 the establishment of Guyana’s first and only Alumina Plant thus far, was completed and a road was paved for the beginning of a new source of revenue for the country.
The factory was an engineering feat and required the efforts of 1700 men who toiled for over four years for this massive structure to leap from the architectural blueprints and fix itself into place, as a steel giant at Spieghtland (Mackenzie), Linden. Phillip. H. Morgan, a construction manager, was tasked with executing the project and it was said to be one of his most grueling tasks since the designated site was a “virtual swamp”. It took over six weeks to clear the site just so that bulldozers could gain access to remove and transport huge trees away from the site. Once the land was cleared, drained and compacted, bauxitic rock was brought to create several miles of road leading to the plant.
After many long hours, painstaking months of sweat and possibly some tears, the Alumina Plant was finally opened by Dr. Cheddi Jagan, the Minister of Trade and Industry, on March 28, 1961. It was considered the largest and most expensive superstructure to have been built. The Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA) is responsible for the construction of the plant and cost 65 million dollars.
The Slow Collapse
Throughout the following years up until 1970, the plant has seen a steady production of three million tons of bauxite every year. After the government took control of the company, nationalizing the industry in the 1970s, the production started to decline, production was slashed in half to a staggering 1.5 million tons annually. Guyana Mining Enterprise Limited (Guymine) suffered repeated losses as a result of inefficient management, declining global bauxite prices, and lengthy worker strikes. The losses depleted the company’s capital reserves and caused plant and equipment to deteriorate and they had no choice but to close the plant in 1982.
Guyana had the upper hand in becoming the world’s leading exporters of calcined bauxite but China saw that there was an opportunity that opened up due to this collapse and took advantage becoming the leading exporters of calcined bauxite. However, there has been news since 2016 about reopening the plant once more.
This plant is quite the historical landmark signifying the hope for the bauxite industry to be a flourishing one. Visiting this abandoned factory in Mackenzie, Linden may invoke an eerie but also hopeful feeling in regards to the economic progress that our humble abode is capable of.
References:
- https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2008/05/24/the-alumina-plant%E2%80%94linden%E2%80%99s-enduring-landmark/
- http://www.guyana.org/features/guyanastory/chapter101.html
- https://photius.com/countries/guyana/economy/guyana_economy_aluminum.html
