Kick-starting Jamaica’s castor oil business through the use of reclaimed mined-out bauxite lands, Jamaica is pushing ahead with exploiting economic benefits from its red mud, used in the process of making bauxite. 

Mining Minister Robert Montague, making his contribution to the 2021-2022 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, said the country is moving to exploit the economic benefit from this valuable resource.

Noting that rear earth elements are critical to the growth of the green sustainable economy worldwide, Montague admitted that there has been some talk lately about the possibility of extracting rare earth elements from Jamaica’s red mud. 

Montague, speaking in Parliament on May 26, said it is a proven fact that the island’s red mud possesses invaluable rare earth elements. Admitting that its extraction is of concern, especially the cost, the minister advised that, “the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI) is actively looking at new methodologies to do so,” declaring that the Government has not given up on this project. 

“In addition, I have sought legal advice as to whether Jamaica has any rights to new metals found in the red mud being held in the United States,” Montague told Parliament.

He highlighted two schools of thought being looked at in moving forward in exploiting this economic opportunity.

Assessing the rear earth situation

 “One is that the licence granted was for bauxite and Jamaica’s Mining Act says ‘if you have a licence to mine one item and in the process you find another, you must inform the commissioner and get his permission and ultimately pay your royalty. Another school of thought is that once you grant the licence and the product is shipped outside of Jamaica, we have no rights to the residue,” Montague said. 

Montague sought to inform Parliament a recent development identifying that recent surveys indicate that there exists, potentially large deposits of rare earth elements, at a location in Jamaica. He disclosed that more testing is under way and more updates will be made as soon as it’s commercially advisable to do so. 

Montague announced that the JBI has finalised an agreement with the Jamaica Castor Oil Grower Association to undertake a programme to kick-start this industry.

“Our Castor Oil is in great demand worldwide and we have seen others making products and branding them as Jamaican Castor Oil. We intend to utilise our reclaimed mined-out lands to plant things such as these,” he reported to Parliament.