KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) - United Company Rusal - the world's biggest aluminum producer - said Thursday it has bought two bauxite plants in Jamaica and hopes to expand operations in the Caribbean nation with coal-generated power.
UC Rusal's representative in Jamaica, Igor Dorofeev, said the company wants to boost annual alumina production at its Alpart and Windalco plants by building two coal-generated power plants to support them and provide electricity to the Caribbean island's energy grid.
''We are very interested in pursuing the project for it would lower our energy cost, increase efficiency, expand employment and allow us to contribute to strengthening the national energy grid,'' Dorofeev said in a statement.
UC Rusal was formed this year in a three-way merger between Russia's No. 1 producer, Rusal, its rival Sual and the aluminum assets of Swiss-based commodities trader Glencore.
The company produces some 12 percent of all aluminum manufactured worldwide.
Jamaica is the world's fifth largest producer of bauxite, the principal ore used in aluminum.