Noranda Bauxite set to produce more

Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners (NJBP) is projecting a boost in its production to record levels next year, even as other companies struggle to survive.

President of NJBP, Pansy Johnson, said that although 2011 is expected to be a challenging year for the St Ann-based company, bauxite production would increase by about 20 per cent to at least 5.1 million tonnes next year.

She said that this target, one the company has never before achieved, would only be possible through hard work, commitment and the combined effort of all members, whom she lauded for their contribution towards the continuous growth of the company.

"Our industry has become more competitive, those companies which survived the recession have become stronger and more efficient, they had to become stronger in order to survive; we therefore, have to become stronger and efficient," she said during the company's Long Service Awards and Retirees' Banquet at Riu Club Hotel Saturday night where 97 employees who have served for between five and 40 years were recognised for their contribution.

Keynote speaker at the function, Contractor General Greg Christie, a former employee of Kaiser Jamaica Bauxite Company, in commending the long serving employees said that they had proved their worth and value as outstanding and exemplary Jamaican employees.

"Many of you here are, therefore, undoubtedly living and breathing benchmarks of what I would call the ideal employee, that is, the type of employee whom every employer yearns to have," Christie told the awardees, as he outlined several attributes, that he believes should characterise an ideal employer and employee.

"It is self-evident that employers such as Noranda cannot succeed without first-class employees such as yourselves and, conversely, employees such as yourselves, cannot succeed unless your employer, in this case Noranda, is competitive and profitable," he said.

Christie said that from information he had received and from what he knew about the local and global bauxite mining, alumina manufacturing and aluminum smelting business, NBJP has so far lived up to the general expectations which the country and local operating communities expect from players in the industry.

"Noranda, although it is one of the newest entrants in Jamaica's 60-year- plus bauxite and alumina industry, has already demonstrated that it recognises and accepts the obligations which it owes to its operating communities, particularly in all important areas of education, agriculture and sports," he said.

Christie said that the mining of bauxite and manufacture of alumina in Jamaica had long presented a formidable challenge for operating companies, in terms of steps taken to mitigate the widespread impact of mining and red-mud disposal and plant emission on the environment.

He said that while much has been done by successive industry operators, over the years, to remedy the problem, much more can and should be done.

Among the awardees was Albert Henry, a member of the Mine Maintenance operations team, who was recognised as the longest serving employee, having worked at the company for 40 years. He, like the other stalwarts, were praised by Johnson and other members of the management team for their invaluable contribution to NJBP.