Melissa damage delays Alpart reopening, gov’t awaiting new timeline - Green

Significant damage to Port Kaiser in St Elizabeth caused by Hurricane Melissa has been cited among the reasons for a delay in the planned reopening of the Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company (JISCO) Alpart facility in Nain.

It was previously indicated that the phased reopening would commence in the last quarter of 2025, which covers October to December.

Hurricane Melissa, a Category Five storm, struck Jamaica last October, causing widespread devastation across western parishes, including St Elizabeth.

Responding to questions at a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee, which is examining the National Budget, Mining Minister Floyd Green said Alumina Partners, the operator of the plant, has told the ministry that because of the significant damage, a new plan will have to be crafted.

“The only thing that has not yet happened, based on the things that were committed, is the reopening. In other words, all the other elements regarding the asset assessment and the development plan — all of those things have happened. Clearly, Hurricane Melissa came in October 2025,” Green told the meeting.

“The team from Alpart came to us in December to say that they had to delay because there was significant damage done to the Port Kaiser facility, and as such, their principals have asked them to recraft the development plan to ensure that they are looking at, one, the costs to fix Port Kaiser, and also building resilience, since we've had two sizable weather events back-to-back,” Green further explained, recalling that Jamaica was hit by Hurricane Beryl in 2024.

According to him, representatives plan to lead a team to China to meet with the principals of JISCO/Alpart.

“Hopefully by the end of April or early May, so that we can get a definitive timeline for reopening. But all the other elements that were promised and committed to have been completed,” Green explained.

Opposition spokesman Phillip Paulwell pressed for a reopening timeline, but Green asked that he be allowed time to travel to China and determine what is possible.

Early last year, Green said the reopening of the JISCO-owned plant in Nain, St Elizabeth remains a priority for the Government.

The refinery was shut down in 2019 to facilitate plans for expansion and modernisation.

At the time, more than 1,500 Jamaicans were employed at the company.

Alpart is the country’s only high-temperature alumina refinery with the unique capability to process lower-grade bauxite found in some areas of the island.

- Erica Virtue

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