Prime Minister Commissions New Conveyor System at Jamalco’s Mining Operation
Prime Minister Bruce Golding officially commissioned
into operation a new rope conveyor system, at Jamalco's
Mount Oliphant mining operation in Manchester on August
28.
Mr. Golding used the opportunity to laud the efforts
that the company has been making to keep its mining
operation running.
He said that investment in technology was one of the main things that has kept the plant going, and recommended that other alumina companies follow their example of operating efficiently, when the market booms again.
He said "the tremendous achievement of Jamalco cannot be overstated. It is not an accident; it is not incidental that of the four refineries that we have in Jamaica, Jamalco is the only one that is still operating."
Mr. Golding said the crises that hit the alumina market, was such that it collapsed plants in many countries across the world, and most of those that withstood the effects were the ones which had constantly upgraded their operations.
He said that "when bauxite prices plunged, as they did to the point where alumina was trading at less than US$1300 dollars a ton, you recognise that there was virtually no plant in the world that could have remained open indefinitely at that sort of price."
"One important factor is that, over the years, almost as if it knew that the global recession was coming, the company had invested a considerable amount of money in improving the technology, in retooling, in making sure that this plant was kept as close to the cutting edge, as possible."
He said that Jamalco has taught the lesson that " even
if you build a new plant today, never sit and believe
that you don't have to constantly look to see what more
can be done, based on new development in technology. It
is to the credit of the shareholders and management of
Jamalco that they saw that, if you are to stay alive,
you have to innovate. You have to constantly improve
levels of efficiency."