Bauxite mining can continue for another century in Jamaica before all reserves are exhausted, as long as proper mining practices are observed, say Parris Lyew-Ayee, executive director of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), and Vincent Morrison, president of the National Workers’ Union (NWU).

However, Lyew-Ayee predicted that bauxite mining will end in 50 years, at current production levels, if the reserves are carelessly utilised.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer, Lyew-Ayee lamented that some business persons and political representatives feel that bauxite mining stands in the way of other development projects and question the wisdom of reserving areas for this purpose.

“The far-reaching benefits to the nation are not getting home to some people,” Lyew-Ayee said. “A lot of people have been taking our bauxite industry and its returns for granted. The bauxite industry contributes significant income for the country. Unlike some other industries, we can account for our money and we know where it is.”

Lyew-Ayee said because bauxite lands were usually flat, some developers wanted to build houses on them. However, that would sterilise the lands for bauxite mining in the future, he said, adding that this has already happened with the town of Mandeville in Manchester and the Dovecot Memorial Park, just outside Spanish Town in St Catherine.

“Mandeville sits on 60 to 70 million tonnes of high grade bauxite; that is several years of production lost,” Lyew-Ayee said.

He noted that some entrepreneurs would like to build in areas they felt have bauxite in non-commercial quantities. However, he suggested that these areas should be protected for future mining.

“The areas that we throw away here are what are being mined in Russia and China,” said Lyew-Ayee. “Because we have so much (bauxite-rich lands) that we pick and choose. We should be guarding all of it.”

“Irresponsible actions can sterilise areas not yet mined,” he warned.

Morrison said that based on information available to him and from investments now underway in the sector, bauxite will be mined in Jamaica for another 45 years at least, and possibly up to 100 years.

“I concur that if mining is properly done without wasting, and with improved technology, bauxite deposits could last anywhere between the 45 and 100 years. Certainly, there have been areas in the country that have not been touched,” said Morrison whose union represents a large chunk of the country’s bauxite workers.

The union leader also called for the development of new technology in order to utilise the so-called poorer quality bauxite lands.

“I hope that over the next few years, through research and experimentation, that the technology can be developed to deal with the poorer quality bauxite, for example, in the area of Manchester called the Blue Mountains the complaint is that the quality of the bauxite is not as good as areas mined before,” Morrison said.

However, he was upbeat about the future of the industry.

“What is clear is that the investments being made in the sector tell you that the sector has a bright future,” he said. “Currently, there is stable and enlightened industrial relations, there is maximum co-operation from the work force and there is growth in the major markets of the world.”