It plans to increase production despite global marketplace challenges that have seen the closure of two other bauxite and alumina companies in Jamaica, company officials said late on Wednesday.

“We will have to watch the market as we move forward and are poised to do everything we need to do to continue bringing production up,” St. Ann Bauxite President Larry Holley told company workers at a function that included Jamaican government officials and bauxite industry technocrats.

“We have got the capability here for around 4.5 million or more on an annualized basis, and we certainly would like to have all of that production moving,” Holley said.

The company employs around 550 workers.

“Our workforce now is at 85 percent schedule, so by moving the current workforce back to 100 percent in stages over the next 90 days, we will be able to accomplish the 4.5 million tonnes,” Holley said.

Privately held Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp of the United States owns 49 percent of St. Ann, after recently acquiring a share held by Century Aluminum. The Jamaica government holds a 51 percent stake.

“We are aware of the current global conditions, but we put in place an aggressive sales program that has seen an increase in the demand for bauxite,” Holley said.

The company’s general manager, Pansy Johnson, told the workers that they need not worry about losing employment in an economic climate that has seen job losses islandwide.

“We don’t have in place a corporate plan yet, but within the next 90 days, the company will return to full employment. Discussions will be held with the (trade) unions and the employees will be kept informed,” Johnson said.

Jamaica’s bauxite and alumina industry has suffered deeply amid the global recession and the drop in metal prices.

Its largest bauxite and alumina producer, Alumina Partners of Jamaica, closed its doors and sent home over 1,000 workers. Known as Alpart, it is owned by UC Rusal (RUSL.MM: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) of Russia and Norsk Hydro (NHY.OL: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

The West Indies Alumina Co, whose majority shareholder is UC Rusal, also shut down, putting more than 2,000 employees out of work. Known as Windalco, it has two plants in Jamaica.

Jamalco, in the central parish of Clarendon, remains open. It is owned by Alcoa Inc