The mining of bauxite will resume in Jamaica next month as the Russian based company UC Rusal has been given the go ahead to mine and export up to two million crude wet tones of monohydrate bauxite over an 18-month period, starting in January.
The mining will take place ahead of the opening of the Alpart refinery in the southern parish of St. Elizabeth. The plant was closed for the last five years, reportedly due to low market price and high production costs.
Mining and Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell, who made the announcement about the planned opening at a press conference on Monday, said Cabinet approved his submission for RUSAL Alpart Jamaica to resume mining.
The deal will see employment of up to 250 Jamaican contractors at full mining capacity.
