SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Alpart at Nain in St Elizabeth remains on schedule for the resumption of alumina refining in December 2016, mining minister Phillip Paulwell assured St Elizabeth residents last Thursday.

But the minister who also has responsibility for science, technology and energy has serious concerns about the ability of Jamaicans to meet the “skills set” employment requirements as the resumption date draws nearer.

Alpart, which is owned by Russia-based aluminium giant UC Rusal, closed its mining and refining operations six years ago as a result of the fallout from the global financial meltdown.

Paulwell told his audience at a students’ awards ceremony at the Alpart Sports Club that following Alpart’s closure in 2009 many skilled bauxite/alumina workers migrated — some to the “Middle East, Dubai and elsewhere”.

The company was now struggling to find replacements locally, said Paulwell, pointing out that the Government was insisting that skilled Jamaicans should be “first in line”.

He noted that operators of the Rusal-owned Windalco bauxite/alumina plant in St Catherine were also complaining about the inadequacy of skilled personnel.

“I was at Windalco this week and they are lamenting that they can’t find the skills sets,” said Paulwell.

“So jobs are available but we don’t have the people with skills, and yes, we have to find some of those who went away when Alpart closed, but we also have to encourage our youngsters” to acquire training that will satisfy job market demand, he said.

He encouraged schools to provide guidance for young people who often seek over-saturated ‘white collar’ professions.

“So many of us want to become lawyers but where are the jobs? Where are the jobs for lawyers? We have jobs in the technical fields like engineering and we don’t have the people,” said Paulwell, who is a lawyer.

His comments echoed a theme repeatedly carried by Education Minister Ronnie Thwaites. The latter has insisted that schools must pay more attention to Mathematics, science, technology and technical skills in order to better prepare young Jamaicans for a rapidly evolving working world.

Paulwell told student award winners at the function — including top performers in the high school entrance exam, GSAT — they should “go into areas that are marketable, areas for which jobs are available…”

Paulwell reiterated that as a result of a recent visit to Russia to meet with principals of UC Rusal, 25 new scholarships are to be granted for Jamaicans to study for first and second degrees in that country.

“These scholarships are fully funded. They pay air fares, accommodation, and tuition and… we are linking those scholarships to jobs when the youngsters come back right here at Alpart and Windalco,” the minister said.

He said he would ensure that representatives of the Alpart Community Council sits on an oversight committee “to determine the policy” governing the scholarships.

“I think it is only fair and reasonable that the persons who benefit from these scholarships should come from the areas where these plants are,” Paulwell said.

Regarding bauxite mining which resumed in Alpart-operated areas in March, Paulwell said the first shipment of bauxite from Port Kaiser would take place on September 7.

The minister said Alpart had “so far mined 190,000 hundred weight of … bauxite, 60,000 of which is now at the port…” Three hundred and fifty people have been employed since mining resumed, he said. Crucially, said Paulwell, upcoming shipments will attract the “full bauxite levy”. The levy on mining companies was relaxed following the partial collapse of the bauxite/alumina sector in 2009.

Paulwell took the opportunity to express condolences at the death of an Alpart maintenance employee, Alwyn Collins, as a result of an accident at the Port Kaiser facility last Wednesday. The minister left Thursday’s awards ceremony early in order to meet bereaved family members.

The annual awards hosted by the Alpart Community Council, its business arm Essex Valley Community & Associates and Rusal Alpart Jamaica provided cash benefits for 1,020 students from 45 communities in the mining areas of St Elizabeth and Manchester. Organisers said the ages of beneficiaries ranged from basic school level to tertiary. They said $4.5 million was spent on the benefits package.