JISCO pledges US$490 million for first phase of Alpart alumina refinery restart

Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green says efforts to reopen and upgrade the Alpart alumina refinery have gained ground after senior talks with JISCO and officials from Gansu Province during his recent official visit to the People's Republic of China.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Green said JISCO has reaffirmed plans for a two-stage modernisation drive aimed at restoring full operations and making Alpart a competitive global alumina producer.

He said Phase One alone is expected to draw investment of roughly US$490 million. That work would cover upgrades to major production systems, plant infrastructure, and power generation, the rollout of dry-stacking for residue handling, and repairs to key rail and port links.

"After years of uncertainty, there is now renewed commitment, a defined modernisation programme and a clearer pathway towards returning this important facility to productive operation," Green told Parliament.

Green said bringing Alpart back online was a leading goal of his China mission, given the refinery's role in Jamaica's mining sector and its impact on communities in St Elizabeth and Manchester.

"Alpart is tied to generations of work, enterprise and opportunity. It has supported families, sustained businesses and contributed to the economic life of entire communities," he said.

While in China, Green visited JISCO's alumina refinery and steel smelting sites and held an official session with the JISCO Group Board of Directors, including the company's chairman. He also met the Governor of Gansu Province, which oversees JISCO as a state-owned enterprise and plays a central part in major investment decisions.

According to Green, the governor pledged support to help speed Alpart's reopening and urged JISCO to move quickly toward restarting operations.

JISCO acquired Alpart in 2017 and brought the plant back after years of closure. The company invested about US$360 million and provided work for roughly 1,000 Jamaicans, including direct staff and contractors. Operations were halted in 2019 and were later affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts in the global alumina market.

Over the past five years, JISCO has run a wide feasibility review, assessing the existing plant, required capital, new technologies, and international models for modern alumina production.

The redevelopment plan is meant to restore output to about two million tonnes of alumina per year. Phase One would reach one million tonnes annually, with Phase Two adding another one million tonnes.

The company has committed to meeting the preconditions needed to begin construction before the end of this year, with an official launch targeted before June 2027.

Green said the Government remains determined to see the refinery return to production.

"This Government made a commitment to the people of Jamaica that we would pursue every avenue to see Alpart return to operation. We went to China, we engaged the decision-makers, we secured a clear path forward, and we are closer than ever to seeing Alpart reopen and once again drive growth, jobs and opportunity for our people," he said.