Windalco's Ewarton plant, owned by UC Rusal
The Government of Jamaica has granted UC Rusal, the Russian conglomerate, an additional two-year bauxite levy concession in relation to its Windalco alumina refinery at Ewarton in St. Catherine.
One important condition of this extension is that a coal fired plant be established to supply energy to the mining operation. Plans for the coal plant had been previously announced but to date the work has not commenced.
The company had earlier been granted a one-year levy concession with several conditions attached, including expansion of production at Windalco, and reopening of two other plants - Kirkvine and Alpart - by 2015.
Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell, opening the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, admitted that some of these conditions had not yet been met. Nevertheless, he confirmed that the two-year concession extension had been granted in respect of the Ewarton plant.
The Minister told Parliament that representatives of UC Rusal will arrive in Jamaica later this month to conclude discussions "on the future of their operations" at Alpart (in St. Elizabeth) and Kirkvine (in Manchester).
He also announced that the Government is in negotiations for the sale of its seven per cent stake in Windalco.
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