About 73 per cent of the revenue generated by the Merian gold mine remains in Suriname, according to Dave Midor, General Manager of Newmont. This takes place through salaries, local purchases, taxes, royalties and investments in communities, among other things. Midor said this on Friday during the celebration of ten years of commercial production at Merian and the achievement of the milestone of four million ounces of gold.
According to Midor, Merian was still a vision ten years ago. At the time, Newmont saw potential for a world-class gold operation, but according to him, its development is the result of the joint efforts of employees, contractors, communities, the government, traditional authorities and business partners. “What we see here today is the collective effort of our employees, our contractors, communities, the government, traditional authorities and our business partners, who have worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality,” Midor said.
He stressed that, according to Newmont, Merian’s story should not be measured solely by the number of ounces of gold produced. The opportunities created, sustainable partnerships and the economic contribution to Suriname should also be taken into account, he said.
73 per cent remains in Suriname
Midor stated that about 73 per cent of the revenue generated by the operation remains in Suriname. According to him, this money enters the local economy through wages, local procurement, taxes, royalties and investments in communities. According to the General Manager, however, the human factor remains the most important part of Merian’s success. “Behind every ounce of production are people. People who put safety first, solve challenges, make difficult decisions, embrace innovation and come to work every day with determination to make their best contribution and continue improving.”
Midor said that the milestones achieved are therefore the result of the commitment of employees, contractors, business partners, the government, traditional leaders and the communities that have been part of Merian’s development from the outset.
Looking ahead
Newmont also used the anniversary celebration to look ahead. According to Midor, the company is proud of what has been achieved over the past ten years, but also sees opportunities to continue cooperation with Suriname and the surrounding communities. “We are very proud of where we come from and how far we have come, but we are also excited about where we can still go together. We hope for many more successful decades of cooperation and partnership.”
The Merian operation is celebrating ten years of commercial gold production in Suriname on Friday and has now reached the milestone of four million ounces of gold produced.
