PNP calls for audit of bauxite mud lakes

The Opposition People’s National Party says the recent disaster in Hungary, where toxic red mud from an alumina refinery flooded a town killing at least four people, brings into sharp focus the potential threat to Jamaica.

In a release issued on Wednesday morning, the party said the four alumina plants in Jamaica, produce four million tons of alumina annually and one ton of toxic red mud waste per ton of alumina.

The party says this waste is stored in ponds and are scattered around the alumina plants.

The release says at Jamalco, the mud waste is stored in mud ponds that are built close to the plant in Hayes, Clarendon while the other plants in Ewarton in St Catherine, Kirkvine in Manchester and Nain in St Elizabeth, the toxic red mud is stored in mined out pits.

In light of the failure of a mud pond in Hungary, the PNP is calling on the government to take a hard look at the potential danger that exists here in Jamaica. 

Opposition Spokesman on Mining and South Manchester MP, Michael Peart,  is calling on the Ministry of Mining and Energy to immediately investigate the status of these mud ponds.

Mr. Peart says an audit needs to be carried out to ensure the integrity of the mud ponds and to determine if any toxic waste was discharged into the environment following the heavy rains in recent weeks.