JISCo’s dust control project at bauxite/alumina waste disposal area receive nod from political reps

JISCo Alpart Jamaica’s efforts to contain dust pollution from the bauxite/alumina waste disposal area, popularly known as the red mud lake, have received guarded thumbs up from political representatives.

The news came after the Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Eastern Frank Witter told on Tuesday, March 31, “They (JISCo Alpart) have more work to do, but from what I have seen, the situation in March was a great improvement on how it was before.”

Writter also said the efforts by Jiuquan Iron and Steel (Group) Co Ltd (JISCo), since late December, to control dust from 660-acre red mud lake with the use of a mix of anti-dust “mesh” covering, dust suppressants, and huge volumes of water, appeared to have helped considerably.

Councillor Layton Smith (People's National Party (PNP), Myersville Division) said that when there were dust problems and head winds up to Sunday, people noticeably suffered less than earlier.

Member of Parliament for Manchester Southern Michael Stewart (PNP) stated that he was finally relieved at JISCo’s successful efforts to cover the source of the problem, i.e., large mounds of stockpiled bauxite ore in mining communities on the Manchester Plateau.

Stewart also cautioned JISCo to ensure that the covering material remained intact and not degraded; otherwise, the dust problems would return.

However, on the other hand, JISCo Alpart’s prospective modernisation and expansion project, due to which the company’s bauxite/alumina operation is closed since last year, is likely to delay further because of the COVID19 crisis.