Liberalisation of Energy Sector going well – Paulwell

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says plans for the liberalisation of the energy sector have "progressed well".

Speaking at Wednesday's (July 25) Jamaica House media briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr. Paulwell pointed to two policy levers, net billing and wheeling,  which he said, are being implemented.

[RELATED: Talks Begin this Week on Liberalisation of Energy Sector]

Net billing, he explained, will facilitate producers of energy, developed from renewable sources, selling same for placement on the national grid, describing this as a "very significant".

However, a far more important aspect of liberalisation, Mr. Paulwell said, is the process of wheeling, which he advised, is slated to commence later this year. The process, he explained, will facilitate persons being able to generate their own energy, attach same to the national grid for a fee, and channel same for utilisation within their own operations, as the need arises  

"That’s a significant movement forward, in terms of liberalisation, and that is going to happen before the end of this year…that process is well and truly underway. There are no controversies, there are no issues with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) on that; they have accepted that,” he informed.

A third component of the liberalisation thrust, the Energy Minister informed, is positioning of the national energy grid as a conduit to facilitate stakeholders engaging in energy generation. To this end, he disclosed that he will be having discussions with representatives of Japanese energy firm, Marubeni Corporation, and the Korea East-West Power Company, which have controlling interests in the JPS.    

"We are trying to create for them, a vision of an electricity sector that is expanding, where opportunities are there for JPS to grow its business and, in that scenario, (create) a win-win (situation) for all of us,” Mr. Paulwell stated.