A pioneer in limestone exploration, Lydford Mining Company has for more than three decades been on a mission to develop a world-class industry in Jamaica. Founded by Leo Cousins and the late Dr Vincent Hill in 1992, the company today has not only fulfilled key objectives but continues to blaze the trail in achieving year on year successes.

Commencing operations with the export of high-purity calcium carbonate for use in the food and pharmaceutical markets, the founders in combining their skills managed to achieve sustainable development as they paved the way for the processing of limestone for a wider range of uses. Years later, the company, which continues to be led by expert management and a highly technical staff, seeks to further transform the mineral, expanding its use from a low-value construction material into a highly profitable product, now earning millions as it exports tonnes to markets outside of Jamaica.

“The vision of Lyford’s founders was to develop a world-class industrial minerals sector in Jamaica. Dr Hill, a geochemist, discovered a deposit of high-purity limestone, which inspired him to establish the company. He partnered with Mr Cousins, a mechanical engineer, to leverage their combined expertise in geology and engineering and together they established Lydford Mining, with a commitment to excellence in the extraction and processing of industrial minerals,” Managing Director Jackie Millington said in a historical overview of the 32-year-old entity.

Operating from two main mining sites, the Lydford St Ann-based company, she said, now specialises in the production of different stones based on customer requirement. From one site, the mining of chemical-grade stones largely used for flue gas desulphurisation and other industrial applications are being done while the extraction of stones with low levels of elemental impurities, primarily serving the nutraceutical and food market, is the main focus at the other.

“In addition to our mining operations, we run a wash plant that produces ASTM standard washed stone and sand — both certified by the Bureau of Standards Jamaica. Our milling operation, which is another key facet of our business, produces ground calcium carbonate, which is widely used as a filler in products such as paints, soaps, and PVC pipes. From a new block factory located off the North-South Highway, which we strategically launched last year, we also now manufacture pavers and blocks, expecting to output an estimated 700,000 tonnes annually, mainly to clients in the construction market,” Millington stated as she also underscored the diversified operations of the company which she said is currently powered by a dedicated workforce of just over 100 employees.

Touting hard work and sacrifice as two ingredients in the business’s recipe for success, Millington said the founders, in taking personal risks and having the tenacity to navigate the challenges of start-up, were able to innovatively circumvent challenges surrounding access to finance and industry stereotypes at the time to successfully set the business on its current growth trajectory.

“Another of the challenges we initially faced was gaining success to port facilities for export, partly due to the anticipated resurgence of bauxite operations at the Reynolds Pier. However, we’ve since made significant progress in building a positive relationship with the Government, who have been instrumental in assisting us. They have approved the use of ports for our high-purity limestone and are committed to securing additional facilities to support our export needs,” she noted.

“Taking pride in setting records and becoming a trailblazer in the industry,” the managing director said the company has over the last three years witnessed exponential growth in exports. In 2018 it became the first exporter of crushed limestone sand to the US Virgin Islands. Last year, the limestone manufacturer also exported nearly 600,000 tonnes of goods, valued at over US$10 million.

Some other notable achievements over the three-decade lifespan includes a growing list of firsts for Lydford manifested by its shipment of chemical grade Limestone to the US in 2010 and its delivery of a US$1 million valued shipment of limestone in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These were accompanied by a number of other plant expansion and investment in capital expenditure and community outreach projects.

Following the recent acquisition of a Wirtgen 220 SMi state-of-the-art surface miner, the company is also now looking to improve its operational efficiencies as it doubles down on sustainability practices to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, an outcome of which it is most proud.

As the entity take steps to go after more partnerships to further grow the business, its focus Millington said is to strategically leverage opportunities to enhance market reach as it pushes into non-core markets.

“We have now passed department of transportation specifications in Texas to begin export of our road base for use across that state. A realisation of this objective therefore means ‘game on’ for our goal of [exporting] 1.5 million tonnes per year by 2025,” she stated.

Actively undertaking research and exploring new opportunities to diversify offerings, the company also wants to venture into having more value-added finished products.

“It is our hope that Lydford will soon enter the market with finished products, such as toothpaste, this forms part of our goal focused on the mitigation of financial risks and achieving sustainable growth,” Millington added.

Upbeat about the future she said the vision going forward is for Lydford to remain a committed player in the limestone industry with operations guided by the core values of innovation, excellence, sustainability and community engagement.

“Despite the time and investment, we persevered and the past 32 years have been nothing short of extraordinary as ‘the little company that could’ grew from strength to strength. I know my co-founder, Dr Hill, would be equally as proud to see how Lydford Mining has grown to become a pre-eminent player in the Jamaican industrial minerals industry. I share my hearty congratulations with the management team and staff who continue to carry on the legacy of innovation and expertise which we started so many years ago,” Cousins also said in his founder’s day message this year.