(AP) Jamaica's mining minister says a Russian-owned aluminum company is restarting operations at a bauxite refinery that it closed nearly two years ago.
James Robertson says West Indies Alumina Jamaica Ltd. will reopen a plant in Manchester parish by July. He said Tuesday that some 1,000 jobs will be available.
Robertson said the plant produced some 600,000 tons (544,000 metric tons) of bauxite annually and is expected to produce some 250,000 tons (227,000 metric tons) this year.
He said the reopening will cost $9.5 million. Parent company UC Rusal is the world's biggest aluminum producer. It also owns Alumina Partners of Jamaica.
Jamaica is one of the world's largest producers of bauxite, the main ore used in aluminum.