What after bauxite?

WE WARNED a week ago against Jamaica falling into a false sense of security over the reopening by UC Rusal of its 650,000 tonne alumina refinery at Ewarton, St Catherine.

After all, Rusal's 1.1 million refinery at Naine, St Elizabeth, remains closed, and it is unlikely that the old 550,000 tonnes Kirkvine, Manchester, facility, which is the most inefficient in Jamaica, will reopen anytime soon - if ever.

The point? Jamaica falls in the lower mid-range of global efficiency of alumina refineries, in part because of its high cost of energy. Upgrades will demand substantial investment. Moreover, Jamaica has perhaps 40 years of known usable bauxite reserves, which makes long-run investment in the sector a matter to be closely considered.

No post-alumina preparation

This, however, does not mean that Jamaica has no long-term future in minerals and, specifically, bauxite. The problem, though, is that we appear not to be doing the preparation for post-alumina refining.

Nearly a quarter century ago, in 1986, the Jamaica Bauxite Institute helped to organise an international conference of bauxite tailings. There were many interesting papers on the potential use of bauxite residue, after alumina refining, of which there is plenty in Jamaica.

Since then, follow-up has been, at best, spasmodic. It is time we get on with the job.

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