Maxfield Park Health Centre Gets Energy Boost from PCJ

KINGSTON — The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) officially handed over a $1.8 million solar lighting system to the Maxfield Park Health Centre, Kingston, which should help the institution save some $300,000, or 9.4 mega-watts per hour (MWh), annually.

Under the energy conservation initiative, the PCJ has replaced the facility’s outdoor mercury vapour yard lamps and halogen globe lamps in the parking lot with compact fluorescent lamps (CFL), as well as high pressure sodium (HPS) street lamps with LED solar photovoltaic.

Speaking at the function, Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. Clive Mullings, said the project is in keeping with the National Energy Policy, which aims at triggering a paradigm shift to the use of renewable energy sources and energy saving technology. He insisted, however, that for the country is to succeed with the policy, will require a drastic shift in the mindset of most Jamaicans

“We are well aware that, if we are going to get any success at all in this area, we need a complete shift in how we think about energy…and how we deal with it has to be in a very constructive and consistent way,” he stated.

He said despite the fact that the Government has taken up the challenge of leading the charge to energy efficiency and conservation, it will take the full support of all Jamaicans to successfully cut the energy bill.

With technical assistance and support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Ministry has undertaken the challenge of conducting energy audits throughout the public sector, with the hope of significantly cutting the energy bill. In keeping with the goals of the policy, the PCJ has also implemented a number of energy efficiency initiatives in health and educational facilities across the island.

Group Technical Director at PCJ, Dr. Earl Green, said the $1.8 million project at Maxfield Park was the latest in a long list of initiatives undertaken by the Corporation. He noted that the health facility is set to cut its energy bill by some 64.5 per cent per annum, on all external lighting.

“How good would it be, if we could wave a magic wand and replicate this right across Jamaica,” he suggested.

Chairman of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Lyttleton Shirley, commended the PCJ and the Ministry for the work they have been doing, and expressed gratitude for the partnership. He said the donation of the solar lighting system was a welcomed initiative.

“I firmly believe that this approach to saving energy is widely considered as one of the most practical and viable cost saving solutions, which falls in line with the cost containment strategies this region has employed over the past two years, in the face of rising health care costs,” he state.

He also noted that the new system will have a significant impact on the overall development of the institution.

The Maxfield Park Health Centre is a multi-purpose medical centre, which serves a densely populated urban area located in Kingston. It is one of only three Type Five facilities in the city, and provides service in a number of areas, including health promotion, curative and mental health, dental health, child guidance, specialist STD services and operates a dermatology clinic and pharmacy.

By ATHALIAH REYNOLDS, JIS Reporter