Cabinet Approves Procurement Of Additional 480 Megawatts Of Power

Cabinet has approved the use of the limited tender process to procure 480 megawatts of generating capacity, incorporating liquefied natural gas (LNG), for addition to the national energy grid at a cost of US$632 million, Minister with responsibility for Information, Telecommunications and Special Projects, Hon. Daryl Vaz, has said.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Post Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House, Mr. Vaz told journalists that the move to boost the country’s energy capacity is in accordance with the 2010 generation expansion plan developed by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).
He explained that the plan’s provisions will entail displacement of the current Number Four, Five and Six Units at Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, and the Hunts Bay B6 Unit in St. Andrew, and the construction of a 360 megawatt plant, powered by LNG by 2014. Additionally, the Minister said the base plan calls for the construction of an additional 120 megawatt plant by 2016, all estimated to cost some US$632 million
“The Ministry of Energy and Mining and the Office of Utilities Regulation have agreed on the limited tender procurement methodology, as the best way forward. This provides for the basis to complete the generation expansion plan, achieve the timely introduction of LNG to the fuel supply mix, successfully complete the fuel switch objective, and minimize any negative cost impact and risk for the Government of Jamaica, investors and the public at large,” Mr. Vaz informed.