THE Ministry of Trade and Industry has not made any decision on the future use of the Alutrint dockyard at Union Estate, La Brea.

In a statement yesterday, the ministry said it was in the process of "examining many proposals from various sectors of the business community, and has not committed to participate in any specific venture in respect to the use of the Alutrint facility".

On Thursday, chairman and CEO of the Shipbuilding and Repair Development Company Ltd Wilfred de Gannes suggested the ministry was considering replacing the smelter project with a shipyard which would be used to build and repair ships.

The ministry responded that "definitive arrangements for the use of the Alutrint facility will be communicated to the national community by the appropriate spokesperson, based on Cabinet's decision in the matter".

It added that de Gannes did not have the authority to make such comments, as he was not an employee of the ministry.