The majority of workers currently employed on the Oko West Gold Project in Region Seven are Guyanese, with employment expected to increase significantly as construction advances.
During a community engagement in Bartica on Monday, President Dr Irfaan Ali said 946 Guyanese are among the project’s current workforce of 1,193 employees.
The project, owned by Canadian mining company G Mining Ventures (GMIN), is under construction and is expected to move into production in 2027.
“Currently, the workforce stands at 1,193 employees of which 946 are Guyanese. This is projected to increase to 2,100 by December 2026… and most of those jobs will be taken up by Guyanese, mostly from your region,” President Ali told residents.
The President also urged residents to take greater advantage of the employment and business opportunities emerging in the region as major investments continue.
According to reports, GMIN intends to employ up to 2,500 workers for the development of its wholly-owned Oko West operation.
The company has already launched recruitment efforts across the country, including a job fair held earlier this year at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI), targeting both skilled and semi-skilled workers.
As construction progresses, the company is seeking workers across several fields, including construction, mining, transportation, maintenance and hospitality.
President Ali also highlighted ongoing infrastructure works linked to the project. He said the Oko wharf in the Kartabo/Batavia area is expected to become operational this month, while loading and offloading activities are anticipated to begin by August.
Other facilities, including administrative offices, a welcome centre, camp accommodation and a sports ground, are expected to be completed by September.
Meanwhile, exploration, drilling and sampling activities continue across the concession area.
GMIN is targeting annual gold production of approximately 350,000 ounces once the mine becomes operational. The company secured a 20-year mining licence 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, allowing the company to combine the neighbouring Oko West and Oko-Ghanie projects into a larger mining operation. International reports indicate the combined project could eventually produce more than 500,000 ounces of gold annually.
Region Seven remains one of Guyana’s leading mining districts, 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 declared approximately 165,000 ounces.
