Alcoa Jamaica Alumina Plant Remains Down in Wake of Hurricane Dean

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas). Last weekend, Jamaica Aluminum Company (Jamalco), temporarily suspended production at its alumina refinery located in Clarendon, Jamaica. The Jamalco alumina refinery has a production capacity of 1.4 million metric tons per year. This decision to shut down was taken as part of the safety measures in advance of Hurricane Dean, which hit the island on Sunday, August 19, 2007, as a category four storm. The shutdown included the bauxite mine, refinery and port facilities. The mine and refinery sustained little damage, but the port facilities did sustain significant damage, which will delay product shipments. Yesterday, Alcoa declared Force Majeure to warn customers of delays in shipments.

Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals (AWAC), a global alliance between Alcoa (NYSE: AA) (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) (60%) and Alumina Limited, owns 55% of Jamalco and the remaining 45% is owned by the Jamaican Government. Alcoa, a leading producer and manager of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina facilities, operates in the aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, building, construction, and industrial markets in 44 countries.

Jamalco is in the process of assessing damages and repair times and has not announced a time table for a return to operation. The company is developing an $800 million project to add a third alumina production line, which would increase alumina refining capacity by 1.5 million tons per year.

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