Five years after its closure, operations are set to resume at the JISCO-owned Alpart bauxite plant in Nain, St Elizabeth, within the next 20 months.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green provided an update on plans to restart operations at the mothballed facility during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

“JISCO has written to me and has confirmed that following its extensive feasibility process, it will proceed with a two-phased modernisation programme for the Alpart refinery.

“The objective is to restore Alpart as a modern, competitive operation and a major player in global alumina production,” Green said.

The mining minister told the House that JISCO’s redevelopment programme is designed to return the refinery to a production capacity of approximately two million tonnes of alumina annually, implemented in two equal tranches over a two-year period.

“Phase one represents an investment of approximately US$490 million and will focus on returning the facility to operation using newer, cleaner and more efficient technologies,” Green revealed of the plans for the first year.

He said this investment will include the modernisation of major operational systems, upgrading of plant infrastructure, redevelopment of power generation facilities, implementation of dry-stacking technology for residue management and rehabilitation of critical rail and port infrastructure.

JISCO, a State-owned Chinese company has reportedly committed to making every effort to satisfy the necessary preconditions to allow construction activities to commence before the end of this year, with the objective of an official launch before next June.

“The global alumina industry has changed and the future of Alpart requires an operation that is more efficient, sustainable and positioned to compete internationally. That is why the modernisation plan includes the introduction of advanced technologies and a five-megawatt photovoltaic and energy-storage hybrid system, positioning Alpart as a green, low-carbon demonstration project,” said the minister.

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green during a statement in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

Green shared that the plan also includes the rehabilitation of the hurricane-damaged Port Kaiser, as there is a recognition that the success of the refinery depends on strengthening both the plant and the critical infrastructure required to support efficient operations.

Green said work has already begun in key areas, with JISCO investing approximately US$8 million in new rehabilitation equipment, including two large bulldozers which arrived at the Kingston Port on May 30 and are now supporting accelerated reclamation of mined-out lands.

“We also advanced discussions on the long-standing issue of land titles for relocated residents. JISCO advised that approximately 1,233 titles were required, with approximately 350 already completed and another 56 expected to be completed during 2026,” Green stated.

He told Parliament that securing adequate bauxite reserves was also a critical part of the discussions. To this end, JISCO has indicated that approximately 149 million tonnes of bauxite reserves are associated with lands currently being pursued, which would support the long-term viability of refinery operations.

JISCO acquired Alpart in 2017 and restarted operations after several years of closure. During that period, JISCO invested approximately US$360 million into the operation and created employment for about 1,000 Jamaicans, including direct employees and contractors, bringing renewed economic activity to communities across the region.

However operations were suspended in 2019 and, as noted by Green, “the impact of that suspension was significant, particularly for the workers, families and businesses that had come to depend on the refinery”.

The minister highlighted that the suspension was further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, changing global market conditions and wider challenges facing the alumina industry.

As part of its preparations to resume operations, Green said JISCO has, over the last five years, undertaken a comprehensive feasibility process to determine the most viable pathway to return Alpart to full operation.

He said JISCO’s technical teams assessed the existing plant, examined the investments required, reviewed modern technologies, and visited other jurisdictions to study approaches being used internationally to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and modernise alumina production.