Gov’t Commits to Identifying New Markets for Mining Exports

• Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Ministry will continue to place “tremendous emphasis” on the mining sector to facilitate growth and to identify new markets for export.
• The commitment was given as the country saw a 164.2 per cent expansion in the mining and quarrying sector for the April to June quarter compared to the same period last year.
• Minister Green said the growth was largely due to a higher output of aluminium linked to increased production at the Jamalco alumina refinery in Clarendon. Notably, there was an over 100 per cent increase in limestone exports.
• Turning to other developments in the sector, the Minister said that a ‘Mining Matters’ mobile app, which will allow Jamaicans to report grievances caused by the adverse effects of mining and quarrying activities, will be launched this month. The app is being developed in partnership with the European Union (EU).
• The app will help to frame problems reported in a structured and systematic framework, clearly enhancing visibility and facilitating a comprehensive response. The application will also allow residents to do real-time reporting and allow agencies to respond in real time.
• The Minister first spoke to JIS News about the software last month, along with a cost of production (COP) app aimed at assisting stakeholders in the sector to improve their business operations. The COP app will better assist operators in calculating costs, pricing their products, and determining profit margins.

(Source: JIS News)