KINGSTON, Jamaica – Following the sale of bauxite company Alpart Jamaica, the Government says they are preparing to meet with officials of the Chinese company Jiuquan Iron & Steel (JISCO) in September.

According to a release from the Office of the Prime Minister the meeting is to re-affirm government’s commitment to a transparent and rigorous process of balancing our economic growth aspirations, our environmental imperatives and our international obligations.

“The Government is preparing to receive and consider the definitive plans regarding the development of Alpart,” the release stated adding that they are coordinating across all relevant ministries and agencies in preparation for these discussions as investments of this nature must be done in full consultation in order to ensure structured implementation on a sustainable basis.

The release noted that this transaction also holds great potential for the development, revival and expansion of the mining sector and other related value-added industries including aluminium, limestone and cement and as such Prime Minister Andrew Holness has arranged a series of consultative meetings with representatives of the Jamaica Bauxite Institute, the National Environment Planning Agency and the Planning Institute of Jamaica.

On July 19, aluminium giant UC Rusal, finalised a private commercial transaction with JISCo for the sale of Alpart, one of Jamaica’s largest bauxite plants whose operations have been significantly scaled down since 2009.