Energy Minister Hails PCJ/UTECH Biofuel Research

Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, has hailed the collaboration between the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) and the University of Technology (UTech) on research into the use of castor oil as an alternative form of energy.

“It’s really an excellent partnership. Castor oil is known for its energy generating potential and so it is that level of collaboration that we want to encourage among our local scientists and for them to continue to innovate,” he said.

Dr. Wheatley was speaking to JIS News at the Energy, Efficiency and Conservation Awareness Workshop at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in St. Andrew on June 29.

Both entities are expected to sign an agreement in short order to concretise UTech’s research and refinement of a trial blend of B5, which utilises castor-oil based biodiesel.

PCJ Group General Manager, Winston Watson, informed that vehicular trials of the B5 have been underway since December 2016.

“We are fairly optimistic that once this phase of the research is completed, our B5 blend of biofuels will be an affordable option for driving energy efficiency in the transportation sector,” he said.