No decision yet on Ewarton closure – UC Rusal

The board of Russia-based UC Rusal has sent a statement to Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell seeking to confirm that a decision has not yet been made about the closure of the Ewarton Works bauxite facility in St. Catherine.

Paulwell received the notification when he met earlier today with UC Rusal Country Manager Igor Dorofeev to clarify issues following a statement by the Minister to Parliament on Tuesday that the plant would be closed for about a year, and a report out of the United States yesterday in which the company denied the plant would be closed.

A release from the Ministry said that at today’s meeting, Dorofeev said the board of UC Rusal had not actually taken a decision to close the plant, and submitted a press statement released from the company’s headquarters in Russia.

The statement said that "in accordance with the company's adopted procedures, decisions on capacity curtailments and plants closures are in the competence of UC Rusal board of directors. So far, the company's board has not considered issues related to capacity closures and has not taken any decision (in) this regard."

Paulwell indicated to the country representative that the information in the UC Rusal statement was contrary to what was communicated previously at their meeting of July 6.

According to the release, the Minister reiterated a position advanced at the July 6 meeting regarding the closure of the ALPART and Kirkvine refineries.

Those plants, Paulwell said, need to become operational, especially in light of the projected upturn in the bauxite /alumina industry. With respect to those mining licences, Paulwell further indicated that he was awaiting legal advice from the Attorney General's Chambers.

Among those attending today’s meeting were: Minister of State Julian Robinson, Permanent Secretary, Hillary Alexander; Managing Director of Jamaica Bauxite Mining Ltd. and Bauxite Alumina Trading Company of Jamaica, Coy Roache; Executive Director of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, Parris Lyew-Ayee; Candice Rochester of the Attorney General's Department, and other Ministry officials.

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