Ewarton bauxite plant to remain open

Jerome Reynolds, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaican government has disclosed a number of agreements it has secured to ensure the continued operation of the Ewarton bauxite plant in St. Catherine.

It was earlier announced that the company’s 600 employees would be sent home starting this month as its parent company UC Rusal continues to battle the downturn in global demand.

But in this afternoon energy minister Phillip Pauwell, announced that this morning the government and UC Rusal signed a Bauxite Levy Concession Agreement which will run from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013.

He said during the period of the levy, Ewarton is required to maintain the current staff level as well as its production capacity of 300,000 metric tons per annum.

And the energy minister stressed that the government will be pressing to have the other two bauxite companies operated by UC Rusal-owned WINDALCO reopened

Both the Kirkvine and Alpart refineries have been closed since 2009.

In the meantime, the energy ministry informed that the Cabinet has given approval for the sale of the government’s seven percent shares in WINDALCO.

Pauwell said negotiation on the sale is expected to be completed by the end of November.

jerome.reynolds@gleanerjm.com