A total of $156.3 million has been set aside in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure to fund the Rural Electrification Programme. The objective of the project is to expand the reach of electricity supply to rural areas, where the provision of such services would not be economically viable for commercial providers. Other objectives include: enabling householders in rural communities to...

A sum of $15 million has been allocated in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure for the Enhancing the Information Communication Technology (ICT) Regulatory Environment in Jamaica project. The proposed budget, which was tabled in the House of Representatives on April 3 by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, will be reviewed by the Standing Finance Committee...

Minister of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell is encouraging telecommunications providers to create commercial spaces that can facilitate Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO). These he encouraged, should be outfitted with world class, state-of-the-art, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Minister Paulwell said Jamaica has become a highly competitive and attractive business destination and a leading contact centre location in...

The Government’s planned establishment of an Energy Services Company (ESCO) Industry in Jamaica will be further advanced this year with an allocation of $20 million in the 2014/15 Estimates of Expenditure, which have been tabled in the House of Representatives. The money will be used to continue work to complete implementation of the energy sector’s institutional regulatory framework; conduct seven...

The Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Engineering Company (CHEC), for a feasibility study for the damming of the Bog Walk Gorge, in St. Catherine. The  dam would be able to store up to 1,900  million gallons, and supply  80 million gallons per day. The Mona Dam, which is the country’s largest water facility, stores 800...

A workshop to encourage Jamaicans to use energy wisely and to promote conservation and efficiency initiatives, will take place on Thursday, March 27, at the Runaway Bay Heart Hotel and Training Institute, St. Ann, beginning  at 10:30 am. The event is part of a public education campaign for the Energy Efficiency Campaign Programme (EECP), launched in 2012. Jointly funded by...

The Government has issued 120 net billing licences, which allow persons to sell excess energy generated through renewable sources to the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) grid. The award of the licences is being facilitated under the billing system, which was introduced in 2012, as part of measures to liberate the energy sector and diversify the energy base. Minister of Science,...