Lydford Mining Company on Tuesday (May 28) unveiled Wirtgen 220 SMi, the equipment it describes as a “cutting-edge surface miner”, in a ceremony held at the New Relief Mine Site in Golden Grove, St. Ann.

According to the company, the “state-of-the-art” equipment is the first of its kind in Jamaica and will significantly improve Lydford’s operational efficiency and give the company a competitive edge in the global market.

“The surface miner performs selective extraction with unprecedented precision, optimising the extraction of our resources. We can produce five times the amount of material that we used to produce from each litre of fuel,” explained Jackie Hill Millington, managing director at Lydford Mining.

He added that beyond increasing the company’s output, the machinery will also decrease the environmental impact on the land and the communities around the mines.

Lydford was founded in 1992 by Dr Vincent Hill and Leo Cousins with a mission to develop a world-class limestone industry in Jamaica. The company started out shipping 1,500 tonnes of limestone to the US but has since differentiated itself in the local minerals industry.

Just last year, the mining company exported 600,000 tonnes of limestone worth an estimated value of US$10 million. With this latest equipment purchase, Lydford expects to decrease operational costs and increase outputs over the next year.

At the time of the unveiling, Lydford Mining was in the process of loading 50,000 tonnes of chemical-grade limestone to be shipped to a power plant in Florida for critical environmental application that is, flue gas desulfurization which effectively removes harmful emissions from the atmosphere. The company is also preparing to ship 37,000 tonnes of high-purity limestone in June. This reinforces its role as a leader in the global industrial minerals market.

“The surface miner performs selective extraction with unprecedented precision, optimising the extraction of our resources,” Millington states.

“We can produce five times the amount of material that we used to produce from each litre of fuel…But it is about more than just increasing our output; it is also about decreasing the environmental impact on the land and the communities around our mines,” he added.

Engineered by Wirtgen Group, the new surface miner enhances operational efficiency by reducing the need for drilling and blasting. Because it burns less fuel than currently used, Lydford Mining reduces the greenhouse emissions from its site and, as a result, lowers its environmental impact and improves safety conditions.

By engaging in such sustainable mining practices, Lydford Mining’s actions will also benefit residents of Golden Grove, St Ann, with reduced noise pollution and dust.

“As the mining sector evolves, it is crucial that we invest in technology to maximise efficiency and productivity but even more importantly, to minimise its impact and enhance community benefits,” said, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green stated while at the unveiling.

Cabinet has approved an industrial minerals policy, which will capitalise on the development of the sector for the benefit of Jamaicans. The policy will create the framework to attract investments in industrial minerals, which include Jamaica’s limestone.

“Together, we’ll shape a policy focused on sustainable practices and value addition, ensuring our mining industry remains forward-thinking and community-oriented,” Minister Green added.

Representatives from the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, and the wider mining industry were also in attendance to observe the machinery and celebrate the illustrious legacy of Lydford’s founding partners.

Shadow Minister on Transport and Mining Mikael Phillips lauded Lydford for exemplifying the power of unwavering vision and continuous investment, adding that having both makes success attainable.

Both founders Hill and Cousins were celebrated for their role in developing the mining industry in Jamaica, from their humble beginnings working in the Government laboratories at Hope Gardens. Hill, who passed away in 2019, was once the commissioner of mines.

Cousins, who continues to serve as the chairman emeritus of Lydford was a contractor providing aggregates for the Alcoa Alumina Plant.

“I know my co-founder, Dr. Hill, would be equally as proud to see how Lydford Mining has grown to become the preeminent player in the Jamaican industrial minerals industry. I share my hearty congratulations with the Management team and staff who continue to carry on the legacy of innovation and expertise which we started so many years ago,” Cousins said during his address to guests at the Founders’ Day celebrations.