Jamalco Goes Off-Grid as New Turbine Powers Clarendon Refinery

Clarendon, Jamaica, 12 August 2026

The Jamalco alumina refinery in Clarendon is now producing all of its own electricity after a new power-generation turbine came online at the start of August, cutting the plant’s reliance on the national grid.

An island within the island

Century Aluminum Company, which holds 55 per cent of the Jamalco joint venture, said the turbine, known as TG4, marks a significant shift in the refinery’s cost structure. The Government of Jamaica owns the remaining 45 per cent through Clarendon Alumina Production Limited.

On an earnings call with analysts last week, Century’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jesse Gary said the unit ends the need for costly grid purchases that proved unreliable last winter. He described the plant as able to operate as an island within the island.

The savings

Mr Gary estimated the turbine will save about US$20 for every tonne of alumina produced. With annual capacity of roughly 1.4 million tonnes, that points to potential savings in the region of US$28 million a year, although Century itself did not give an overall figure. The full benefit is expected to build up over the rest of 2026.

The project forms part of the US$20 million to US$30 million Century said last year it would spend at Jamalco on sustaining operations and new investment.

Recovery after Melissa

The upgrade responds to a weakness exposed by Hurricane Melissa, which left the national grid unstable for an extended period. Jamalco’s storm-related costs came to US$10.6 million in the first quarter, but had fallen to zero by the second quarter, suggesting its recovery is largely complete.

Management said the refinery reached full or near-full capacity by the end of July for the first time in more than a decade. It is still dealing with lower-quality bauxite from some mining areas, and a revised mining plan is expected to take another couple of quarters to implement fully.

What it means

A steadier, lower-cost Jamalco is welcome news for Clarendon, where the refinery’s fortunes feed through to local businesses, rental demand and property values. The move also shows how large energy users are protecting themselves against grid disruption, a lesson that households investing in solar and backup power after Melissa will recognise.