Jamaica Bauxite Mining’s multimillion-dollar project may begin this year, says Audley Shaw

The Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited (JBM) will create a multimillion-dollar commercial and industrial park near Lydford, St Ann, where the company's principal operations are based.

Minister of Mining Audley Shaw stated that the project will begin this year, adding that the proposed commercial and industrial parks will have state-of-the-art buildings suited to handle BPO, manufacturing, retail stores, and small and big warehouses, among other things.

“I'm very pleased about that because it will create more jobs for the people in St Ann and adjoining areas,” said Audley Shaw.

Shaw was speaking after a visit of JBM's operational locations in the parish with State Minister J.C. Hutchinson on Friday (February 4).

Shaw praised the company's "outside-the-box" thinking, saying, "It's really fantastic and inspirational to see that you're doing other things, even if you're still named the Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited; and it illustrates the need for innovation and diversification."

He also paid a visit to the Lydford Mining Company, which mines and processes high purity limestone materials in the parish. The mining minister stated that the aggregate material produced is of a "high technological level," noting that limestone is turned into sand for commercial use.

“As you know, Jamaica has, probably, the largest area of limestone deposits in the entire region. So, it is something that we [the Government] have to look at as one of the alternatives going forward, even as we have seen some somewhat of a decline in the bauxite/alumina business. So limestone is definitely one of the areas that we have to promote, and do so more aggressively,” added Shaw.

He also emphasised the continuous good relationship between JBM and the Port Authority of Jamaica, which operates Reynolds Pier in Ocho Rios (PAJ).

“I'd like to congratulate the leadership of the Jamaica Bauxite Mining for its initiative on enterprise [and] showing us that they can pursue excellence,” stated Audley Shaw.

The Government of Jamaica owns Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited, which was founded in 1975 and has a business enterprise mandate. On behalf of the government, the corporation owns 51% of the bauxite operations of its present partners, New Day Aluminium (Jamaica) Limited.