Ja: Alcoa expands Jamalco

Alcoa yesterday announced a J$41.4-billion (US$690 million) expansion for its alumina refinery at Halse Hall, in an agreement that will see the Jamaica Government dilute its half stake in the Clarendon facility by 30 per cent.

"This is something that we have been looking at for some time," said Dr Carlton Davis, the chairman of Clarendon Alumina Production (CAP), the company that holds Jamaica's stake in the refinery.

"The expansion will put the plant in a more competitive posture," Davis said. Clarendon Alumina will have to find an estimated US$1 million to finance its portion of the expansion.