One Year In Government - Prime Minister Andrew Holness

21 / 44

• • gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner • ADVERTISEMENT THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 F9
Bauxite Sector: Part of the growth agenda
The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) is responsible for, among other
things, environmental stewardship, and the sustainability of com-
munities impacted by bauxite mining and alumina processing oper-
ations. The JBI also advises on actions to address mining related
matters that might impact communities and also is responsible for
promoting and supporting the economic development of communi-
ties impacted by bauxite mining alumina operations.
The Jamaica Bauxite Mining Institute actively promotes its ‘Life
After Bauxite Agenda’. Recognising the critical importance of agri-
culture to the survival of mined-out bauxite communities, the JBI
has been actively encouraging and supporting the utilisation of
mined-out lands for agriculture through several channels, including
on-going research on the productivity of crops grown on mined out
lands; technical support to farmers to encourage application which
provide best yields; direct funding for crop and livestock production
projects, and the production of high-quality seedlings from the JBI
Plant Nursery.
Water harvesting is also important to the JBI. In this regard, the JBI
has explored water harvesting and crop production technologies
and practices appropriate for bauxite and similar drought-prone
areas. A strategic partnership has been entered into with the
Jamaica Social Investment Funds (JSIF) in which both parties
have agreed to collaborate in the implementation of the Water
Harvesting and Greenhouse Cluster Project. Each greenhouse
cluster is situated around a mined-out pit that has been converted
to a 3.5 million gallon capacity rain harvesting pond supplying irri-
gation water to greenhouses.
JSIF has contributed J$160m to the project for the construction of
160 greenhouses, the training of 160 farmers and the installation of
secondary water storage and food safety infrastructure. To date,
five of the eight greenhouses are in full production with three to
come into production by the end of March 2017.
CLARENDON ALUMINA PRODUCTION
– KEEPING THE LID ON THINGS
Clarendon Alumina Production (CAP) executes and
monitors programmes to facilitate the effective and
efficient performance of the Jamaica alumina refinery
for which it has 45 per cent interest under a joint
venture agreement with General Alumina Jamaica
LLC, which was originally owned by Alcoa Mineral
of Jamaica. CAP’s JAMALCO operation continues to
be a mainstay of the economy of the south central
region of the country with the plant providing regular
employment for approximately 1,000 persons as well
as indirect employment to persons engaged by over
100 industrial contractors.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Early last year, JAMALCO launched Project 200
which was geared at improving the company’s per-
formance by reducing costs across all departments.
This initiative, along with favourable oil prices
assisted the company to reduce the first quartile of
cash costs in 2016, a position that the company had
never before experienced
In an effort to identify additional revenue streams,
JAMALCO made its first sale of tri-hydrate in June
2016. Some 30 tons of hydrate were sold for testing to
companies that wanted to assess the quality of the
product.
2016 marked the third consecutive year that
JAMALCO produced alumina that exceeded the
required customer specifications for the commodity.
With an average of above 90 per cent ,Jamaica is
now one of the world’s most sought after alumina
suppliers.
In June 2016, JAMALCO unveiled four brand new
locomotives which will be used to transport its com-
modities – bauxite, oil, caustic and alumina.
JAMALCO was recommended for re-certification
under the Occupational Health and Safety
Assessment Series (OHSAS) 1800 certification.
Four high-pressure boilers in the Powerhouse were
successfully overhauled to improve the reliability of
JAMALCO’s operations.
Jamaica Bauxite Mining (JBM) is one of the agen-
cies associated with the continued growth of the
mining portfolio in the island. Consistent with its
mandate of promoting sector expansion, while pay-
ing attention to the environment, the company has
ensured that the GOJ is fulfilling its potential from
the development of mining.
As part of its assets base, the company owns the for-
mer Reynolds properties, a pier in Ocho Rios as well
as workshop and office spaces in Lydford, St Ann.
Additionally, it owns 51 per cent of the
Noranda/New Day Bauxite facilities in Discovery
Bay, St Ann.
For the period 2016-2017, the Company made before
tax profit amounting to $244m. Other significant
achievements included:
• Facilitating the shipment of all bulk sugar from
Jamaica;
• Facilitating shipments of food grade limestone
and for cleaning coal fired plants in the USA;
• Facilitated preparatory work along with the Port
Authority of Jamaica for the repairs and re-devel-
opment of the Port in Ocho Rios;
• Repaired oil storage tanks to have facility for
bunkering cruise and other ships in Ocho Rios;
• Attracted a significant client base to lease old
bauxite storage building at the port for receipt
and distribution of building supplies;
And as far as Corporate Social Responsibility goes,
the Company:
• Repaired houses in Lydford-Beulah Park Complex
for rent;
• Repaired old clinic building for lease as retire-
ment home;
• Connected NWC supply to the Lydford-Beulah
Park houses and;
• Completed along with Mustard Seed Community,
the repairs of disused water well using solar
pump.
JAMAICA BAUXITE MINING
– KEEPING THE INDUSTRY ALIVE
JAMAICA BAUXITE INSTITUTE
OVERSEEING THE BAUXITE SECTOR