Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Government is ramping up efforts to revitalize Jamaica’s bauxite and alumina industry, a sector he described as still vital to the national economy despite decades of decline.
Speaking at a Bauxite/Alumina Industry Day event held at the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) in Hope Gardens, St. Andrew, on Friday, Minister Green said the Government intends to play a more active role in boosting efficiency and driving investment.
“We are going to be looking at things like the quality of our ore that is left, what is happening across our bauxite companies in relation to the aging infrastructure, and the plans to invest to ensure that we can be more efficient in what we do,” Minister Green said.
Citing encouraging recent performance, the Minister noted that Jamaica recorded a four percent increase in aluminium output in 2024, reaching 1.337 million tonnes compared to 1.286 million tonnes in 2023. The country also collected approximately J$623 million in bauxite royalties during the 2024–2025 fiscal year — a notable jump from the previous period.
Green highlighted the economic potential of Jamaica’s red mud, which is believed to contain about 40 million tonnes of iron oxides and rare earth elements. He signaled that 2025 would be the year to move beyond discussions and begin identifying investment partners to extract these valuable resources.
“There must be a way and a partner that can capture those rare earth elements, extract it, and use it for the benefit of all our people,” he said.
Minister Green also pointed to recent meetings with sector stakeholders, including Jamalco, Windalco, and Discovery Partners, who have each shared plans for infrastructure upgrades, haul road development, and streamlined energy solutions aimed at improving productivity.
JBI General Manager Andre Lindsay echoed the Minister’s call, stating the Institute is “refocusing and retooling” to lead scientific research into the recovery of rare earth elements from bauxite residue. He said the JBI will prioritize data gathering and analysis in the current fiscal year to lay the groundwork for future investment.
The Bauxite/Alumina Industry Day was held under the theme “The Future of Bauxite” and marked the close of National Minerals Week, which ran from May 25 to 30 under the banner “Minerals for National Development.”
