Jamaica’s bauxite and alumina sector development to create more jobs

Jamaica’s former Minister of Transport and Works Mike Henry said yesterday during his contribution to the 2017/18 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives that more than 1,000 employment opportunities  are likely to be created as a result of developments in the bauxite/alumina sector in Jamaica.

The minister stated that the Alpart refinery, the largest alumina refinery in Jamaica, would provide employment opportunity to Jamaicans when the 250 temporary Chinese return to their country in June. At present, 500 Jamaicans are permanently employed at the refinery.

The operations of Alpart alumina refinery is slated to be resumed in the second half of 2017. Currently, the government is rehabilitating and renewing the plant before restarting alumina production this year.

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The minister pointed out that the upgrading of Alpart’s Port Kaiser facility and the expansion works at the Jamalco refinery in Clarendon is further expected to create more jobs.

He added: “They are going to build the second factory, to move to a 2,000-tonne (capacity) alumina refinery, all with attendant employment for another 500 permanent jobs.”

The construction of a 120-megawatt plant by American company, New Fortress Energy, “will dramatically increase profitability of the operations”.