Energy Most Critical Issue Facing Country – Minister Paulwell
By: September 21, 2013 ,The Key Point:
The Facts
- The Minister urged the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to get on with their work
- He welcomed the recently announced preffered bidder for the construction of a 360-megawatt generating facility
The Full Story
Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM), Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says energy is the most critical issue facing the country, and that the use of renewable energy is one way to significantly lower the cost of electricity in the country.
“I really want to urge Jamaicans now, to look at what we are doing by energy efficiency, energy conservation, and incorporating renewables into our mix,” the Minister said.
Addressing the Jamaica Alternative Energy Expo and Conference, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, in St. James, on September 20, Mr. Paulwell said that as Minister, “I make no apology for fighting hard to solve the nation’s energy problems.”
Outlining some of the things that need to be achieved to improve the efficiency of the sector, the Minister urged the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to get on with their work of helping to facilitate the provision of cheaper energy to the people.
He welcomed the recently announced preffered bidder for the construction of a 360-megawatt generating facility, adding that the whole country is looking forward to getting cheaper electricity.
“We are going to facilitate you completely to make sure that by January 2016, 360 megawatts of new capacity is in the ground,” the Minister said.
Mr. Paulwell said he is very pleased at the response of Jamaicans toward energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy, which is leading to a reduction in demand for electricity from the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo).
The Minister said this will have the dual effect of spending less on imported oil, and contributing less to the degradation of the ozone layer.