By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter 
Employees continue repairs yesterday of Alpart's bauxite conveyor belt, Knockpatrick, Manchester. Sections of the belt were damaged by fire on Friday when tyres were put on it and set ablaze. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
IT MAY cost more than the $20 million previously stated to repair damaged sections of an Alumina Partners of Jamaica (Alpart) conveyor belt that was damaged during Friday's fire, which was reportedly started by arsonists.
Lance Neita, Alpart's public relations manager, could not give the upgraded figure, but said yesterday that employees had been working around the clock to effect the repairs well before the three weeks it is estimated the repairs will take.
"We hope to beat it by maybe a week," he said.
Between 75 and 80 persons have been assigned to work 12-hour shifts on the repairs. Workmen were busy yesterday, removing blackened cables and the charred outer shell of the conveyor belt and cranes moved into position to begin laying new coverings.
The police still have no suspects and are awaiting a report from the fire brigade and test results from samples collected by police forensic experts.
"I'm hoping that in a week the report from the lab will be in, (but) we're (going) full steam ahead," Supt. George Quallo of the Manchester police, told The Gleaner last week. "We've had some calls from residents and we are following several leads," he added.
Mr. Neita said that Alpart's own investigations had so far turned up nothing and that the company was not going to speculate on what could be behind the act.
Alpart has stepped up security and surveillance along its conveyor belt. "Prudence would demand that we do it, (so) we have added security and surveillance," Mr. Neita said.
The fire was spotted around 4:50 on Friday when engineers at the control room of the alumina plant in Nain, St. Elizabeth, detected that a section of the cable belt wasn't functioning. A team was sent to investigate and saw a blazing tyre on the belt. Fire had already engulfed sections of the belt.
Officials said that about 700 to 800 feet of cable belt, as well as rollers and bearings and zinc used to cover the belt, were damaged by the fire.
A news release from the Ministry of Mining and Energy put the damage at $20 million and said it would take three weeks to complete the repairs.
The conveyor belt runs from Knockpatrick in Manchester to Nain and is operated by Alpart Mining Venture, a joint venture company which mines for both Alpart and Jamalco.
Mr. Neita said that plant operations have continued despite the damage.
