Jiuquan Iron & Steel (Group) Co. Ltd. is planning to temporarily shut down its Alumina Partners of Jamaica Ltd., or Alpart, bauxite and alumina refinery over the next two to three months to upgrade and modernize the facilities, Metal Bulletin's Fastmarkets reported Aug. 30, citing unnamed sources privy to the matter.
The report said the company has ongoing disputes with the local government regarding job losses and economic impact as a result of the closure, led to delays. It reopened earlier due to high alumina prices, according to the report.
The Jamaica Observer reported that the closure is likely to last between 18 and 25 months, Fastmarkets added.
Jiuquan Iron & Steel closed its acquisition of Alpart for US$299 million in cash from United Co. Rusal PLC in November 2016. The operation was suspended between 2009 and 2015, prior to which it had annual capacity of 1.65 million tonnes of smelter-grade alumina and 4.9 million tonnes of bauxite.
