Country Must Further Reduce Petroleum-Based Fuels – Energy Minister

Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, says Jamaica’s consumption of petroleum-based fuels must be further reduced, in order to generate potentially greater benefits for the country.

Dr. Wheatley says the Government’s commitment to achieve this by increasing renewable energy options is “unquestionable”, pointing to 80 megawatts of the alternative resource, which will be incorporated into the national grid by year end.

He was speaking at the launch of the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC) GreenTech Accelerator Programme, at the Scientific Research Council (SRC) in St. Andrew, on June 29.

Noting that Jamaica’s 2015 oil import bill totalled US$1 billion, the Minister emphasised the collective need to ensure that “our approach to utilising renewable energy outpaces the need for the use of fossil fuels”.

While expressing confidence that initiatives targeting increased renewable energy locally will succeed, Dr. Wheatley cautioned that Jamaica, like many other countries, has a lot of work to do in order to reduce petroleum energy consumption.

“Locally, the minimum responsibility for each of us must be our resolve to increase energy consciousness, particularly as it relates to consumption; hence it is imperative that we utilise our natural resources,” he said.

The GreenTech Accelerator Programme is a six-month initiative designed to promote the growth and development of clean technology business solutions across the Caribbean, focusing particularly on energy.

The programme, which is being administered in Jamaica by the SRC, will provide support in areas such as entrepreneurial education and training to participating start-up companies.

It is being funded under a US$3-million provision from the Government of Canada, being administered through the World Bank’s InfoDev Programme.

InfoDev supports high-growth entrepreneurs in developing economies by providing them with technical support, funding and mentorship through a global network of business incubators.