IT WAS a record year for bauxite production despite the challenges which the active Hurricane season presented to the bauxite and alumina industry in 2005, the Jamaica Bauxite Institute confirms.
Total bauxite production hit a record 14.1 million tonnes, based on data compiled by the Institute. Representing crude bauxite produced for export and bauxite refined locally into alumina, this was an increase of six per cent over the same period last year.
Gross revenues are on course for a 10 per cent increase to somewhere in the order of US$960 million amid spiralling costs for key inputs such as fuel and caustic soda.
Total production for 2005 was eclipsed only by production in the year 1974 when some 15.2 million tonnes were produced. However, whereas in 1974 crude bauxite (roughly eight million tonnes) accounted for 53 per cent of total bauxite production (and alumina for 47 per cent), in 2005 approximately 72 per cent of total bauxite production was in the form of higher value-added alumina. In 2005, crude bauxite production stood at 4.04 million tonnes, while alumina output climbed to 4.08 million tones, against 2.8 million tonnes in 1974.
The industry had its fair share of weather-related hiccups in 2005. In late September a severe weather system triggered heavy bolts of lightning that caused the powerhouse at Jamalco to temporarily trip out, resulting in the loss of about 9,000 tonnes of alumina. This was further exacerbated by a production loss, also at Jamalco, of roughly 11, 000 tonnes of alumina attributable to a power outage in late October caused by torrential rains associated with tropical storm Wilma.
Bad weather is also to be blamed for an estimated 400,000 tonnes of crude bauxite that would otherwise have been mined by St. Ann Bauxite Limited.
World alumina production increased by 4.6 per cent in 2005 to 60.6 million tonnes, with much of the demand originating from China, the Institute stated. World consumption stood at 61 million tonnes, a 5.9 per cent increase over last year.
