Gov’t planning to revive bauxite industry

Mining and Energy Minister, James Robertson, has hinted at government plans to revive the collapsed bauxite industry. Mr. Robertson was speaking at the launch of engineers' week -- organized by the Jamaica Institute of Engineers. In his address, the minister signaled some of the government's attempts to re-open the Ewarton, Kirkvine and Alpart bauxite-alumina plants, which were closed due to the impact of the global economic recession. "We believe that with a new energy mix offered to them, LNG [Liquified Natural Gas] and a few other considerations some of which I could lose my job for mentioning such as the bauxite levy, the environmental levy, taxes, the contribution we expect from those industries we believe we will be able to get those industries started again," he said. He also lauded Jamalco and St. Ann Bauxite for the work of their local engineers in helping those two bauxite plants to weather the financial storm.