THE JAMAICA Bauxite Institute (JBI) is a recognised repository of information on bauxite and alumina, and enjoys a solid reputation for research and analysis of data and trends in the industry. The existence of the JBI puts Jamaica in the position of being one of the few developing countries with an institution devoted solely to the research and development of one of its prime mineral resources.
After the completion of the bauxite levy negotiations in 1974, it was noted that the absence of an organisation to monitor, evaluate, and conduct research on the bauxite/alumina industry and to protect the interest of the Jamaican Government in the industry, was a major weakness on the Government's side.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
In order to address this imbalance, three institutions were created: the JBI, Jamaica Bauxite Mining Ltd. (JBM) and the Bauxite and Alumina Trading Company (BATCO). Established in 1976 as an arm of the Jamaica National Investment Company, JBI's role was to deal mainly with the sovereign aspects of the Government's participation in the industry. It was also to give technical support to the other two institutions.
At present, Jamaica has one bauxite company, St. Ann Bauxite Partners, and three refining operations, Windalco, Jamalco, and Alpart. In 1985, the government acquired all the local assets of Reynolds, which had folded its operations in 1984.
