The first shipment of alumina from the Alpart plant in St Elizabeth, since it reopened under Chinese ownership in June, is to leave Jamaica this morning and the new owners will be celebrating the event.

The vessel, WUCHOW, steamed into Port Kaiser on Wednesday afternoon to pick up the cargo of 35,000 tonnes of alumina. Today’s shipment marks the first time alumina is being exported from Alpart in over eight years.

But, just before the ship departs Port Kaiser with its cargo, the new owners of the plant, Jiuquan Iron and Steel (Group) Company Ltd (JISCO), said they will host a First Shipment of Alumina Ceremony, at which Mining Minister Mike Henry, and his predecessor and current Opposition spokesman on mining Phillip Paulwell, will be among the speakers, along with JISCO officials, including its chairman, Liu Wanxiang.

Liu said the event is a testimony to the management and staff of Alpart, who went beyond the call of duty to ensure that the deadlines were met.

He thanked the Alpart team for their work and commitment to the company, as well as the community councils which have worked closely with the company, the Government and people of Jamaica, for their support.

Russian mining company UC Rusal sold the 1.6-million-tonne Alpart alumina refinery to JISCO for US$300 million in 2016. Since then it has reopened its alumina refinery at Nain in St Elizabeth, its mining complex in Manchester and the port operations at Port Kaiser at Alligator Pond in St Elizabeth.

Final parts of the deal, which addressed ownership, operation and build-out of the Alpart alumina works were signed in Jiayuguan, China, in 2017. Completion of the deal paved the way for some $1 billion in additional investment at the refinery and the creation of 800 jobs.

Production at the Alpart plant was halted in 2009 in the aftermath of the global recession and a drop in metal prices.

JISCO plans to build a 500,000-tonne-a-year aluminium smelter as part of its redevelopment of the refinery.

Alpart currently employs over 900 full-time, part-time and casual workers and is one of Jamaica’s largest employers.

Since reopening, JISCO Alpart has engaged the community through the establishment of community councils. Its programmes for social partnerships in agriculture, health, education, sports and youth and community development; resettlement and land rehabilitation; human resource development; world-class safety standards and environmental protection and community development have been major priorities.