Roles & Functions

The Jamaica Bauxite Institute (J.B.I.) was established by the Government of Jamaica in 1975 and is a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of Jamaica in October 1975.

The main activities are to:

monitor and study the aluminum industry and advise the Government of Jamaica on matters pertaining to the bauxite/alumina industry locally and internationally

continually assess and ensure rationalization in the use of Jamaica’s bauxite reserves and (bauxite) lands

monitor and make recommendations to ensure adequate pollution controls and other environmental programmes in the industry

provide laboratory services to analyze not only bauxite, its products and by-products but also a range of industrial and agricultural materials

in addition, the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (J.B.I.) implements Bauxite Community Development Programmes (BCDP) in collaboration with the bauxite/alumina companies and community councils.

The immediate objectives of the Institute are dictated by a series of agreements with the bauxite companies operating in Jamaica, under which the Government has acquired varying levels of interest in the local operations of these companies, together with the re-acquisition of all the bauxite lands not immediately affected by mining and process operations. On the other hand the Government, through the Institute, is obligated to make available to the companies suitable deposits of ore to meet the productive capacity of their plants, as required over the tenure of agreements. A basic requirement is that of enabling the companies to fulfill their obligations under the Bauxite Production Levy Act, the Income Tax Act and the Mining Act so providing the country with the revenues to be paid in respectively as levy, income tax and royalty.