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The Ministry of Energy and Mining is working to complete the National Minerals Policy 2010 to 2030 within the first quarter of the new fiscal year for tabling in Parliament in August. Consultations on the draft policy are now underway, which will inform the final document. Principal Director for the Policy Planning and Development Division of the Ministry, Oral Rainford,...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson, says Jamaica is not expected to be negatively impacted by the reported stockpiling of bauxite, alumina and other raw materials by China. Speaking at the PIOJ’s quarterly review briefing at the agency’s New Kingston offices on Wednesday (February 23), Dr. Hutchinson said China’s actions are not a “point...

Resuscitation of the local bauxite industry is on track, with the restart of operations at Windalco’s Kirkvine plant in Manchester, set for July 1 this year. Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson made the announcement in the House of Representatives, on February 15.  The revitalisation of the Kirkvine operations brings with it more than 1,000 jobs, and follows...

The Lydford Mining Company in St. Ann will set a record for the country on Sunday February 13, when it ships 43,000 tonnes of local limestone to the United States. The amount represents the largest shipment of the mineral from Jamaica to the North American country. The limestone is currently being loaded on the TBS International vessel, Chesapeake Belle, at...

Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. James Robertson, met with stakeholders in the bauxite/alumina industry earlier this week as the government looks at measures to reposition the sector to make it more energy efficient through the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel. Minister Robertson, who spoke to JIS News at his New Kingston office, said that the...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding, says that there is a need to wean the national budget off from its dependence on drawdowns from on the Capital Development Fund (CDF) to supplement expenditure. Mr. Golding was responding to questions raised by Member of Parliament for East Central St. Andrew, Dr. Peter Phillips, on declining bauxite reserves at Tuesday's (October 5)...

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon James Robertson, has congratulated the Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners (NJBP) on their achievements over the past year, and their commitment to the mining sector. "The mining sector is the only sector that showed economic growth last year, and commendations must be given to Noranda and its team. The importance you have played in recent...

Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Dr. Gladstone Hutchinson, has disclosed that mining and quarrying was the best performing sector during the April to June quarter, recording growth of 4.3 per cent, He said that the sector was the only area within the Goods Producing Industry that recorded growth over the period. The Industry - which also...

The long whispered rebirth of Jamaica's bauxite/alumina sector became evident on July 22, as the Ewarton Alumina Refinery in St. Catherine was officially reopened. The plant is expected to start up with the proapproximately 321,000 tonnes, of its total capacity of approximately 625,000 tonnes of alumina, this year. It will employ 629 workers, raising employment hopes at Rusal's WINDALCO and...

Beginning in the new academic year, three students from the island's bauxite parishes who wish to study in the field of science, technology or sport, at the under graduate level, will benefit from scholarships tenable at any local university, annually. This is being made possible through a scholarship Foundation, which has been launched by global mining company, Glencore International, in...

Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. James Robertson, is expecting an expansion in the local bauxite/alumina industry in the next eight months, based on the work done by the Ministry in that sector. Speaking at a press conference, held at the Ministry's Trafalgar Road offices on June 14, Mr. Robertson cited the Ministry's effort to facilitate increased investments in the sector,...

Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. James Robertson, is optimistic of an earlier than anticipated restart of full operations by at least one of the island's bauxite/alumina companies, West Indies Alumina Company Limited (WINDALCO). The Minister's optimism comes in light of "early works" which are being undertaken at WINDALCO's plant in Ewarton, St. Catherine. "Looking. at the early works. we are...