JISCO Plans Two-Phase Upgrade to Restart Alpart Alumina Refinery

Chinese steelmaker Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) will carry out a two-stage upgrade of the Alpart alumina plant at Nain, St. Elizabeth, to put the facility back on a modern footing and restore its standing in world alumina markets.

Hon. Floyd Green, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, set out the details in a statement to the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 7.

Under JISCO’s proposal, throughput would return to about two million tonnes of alumina a year. The first stage would deliver one million tonnes annually; the second would bring in another million tonnes.

“Phase one represents an investment of approximately US$490 million and will focus on returning the facility to operation using newer, cleaner and more efficient technologies,” Mr. Green noted.

That outlay, he said, covers overhauls of core process systems, plant infrastructure improvements, rebuilt power generation, dry-stacking for residue handling, and restoration of vital rail and harbour links.

“The company has committed to making every effort to satisfy the necessary preconditions to allow construction activities to commence before the end of this year, with the objective of an official launch before June 2027. The project in phase one will take 20 months to complete,” Mr. Green said.

He stressed that the alumina trade has shifted worldwide, so Alpart’s future hinges on a leaner, greener plant able to hold its own against overseas rivals.

“That is why the modernisation plan includes the introduction of advanced technologies and a five-megawatt photovoltaic and energy-storage hybrid system, positioning Alpart as a green, low-carbon demonstration project,” Mr. Green said.

“The plan also includes the rehabilitation of the hurricane-damaged Port Kaiser, recognising that the success of the refinery depends on strengthening both the plant and the critical infrastructure required to support efficient operations,” he added.

Initial works are already under way. JISCO has spent roughly US$8 million on fresh rehabilitation gear, among them two large bulldozers that landed at Kingston Port on May 30 and are now speeding reclamation of former mining grounds.

The Ministry has also pushed ahead on long-standing land-title matters for families who were relocated. JISCO has reported that about 1,233 titles were needed, of which roughly 350 are done and a further 56 should be finished in 2026.

“Securing adequate bauxite reserves was also a critical part of the discussions. JISCO had indicated that approximately 149 million tonnes of bauxite reserves are associated with lands currently being pursued, which would support the long-term viability of refinery operations,” the Minister said.

For many years Alpart has been a pillar of Jamaica’s mining industry and a key economic driver for western Jamaica. Its activity has sustained workers, contractors, haulers, small enterprises and households in Nain, Myersville, Junction, Malvern, Santa Cruz and Lititz, as well as nearby districts in southeastern St. Elizabeth and southern Manchester.