PCJ hosts energy symposium February 17

The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) will host the second in a series of energy symposia at the PCJ auditorium, in Kingston, on Thursday, February 17.

The year-long series, launched on February 9 under the theme: ‘Jamaica’s Energy Future’, will cover, among other things, access to, and the development of renewable energy technologies; energy efficiency and conservation; energy in the transport sector; as well as the thrust to lower electricity prices.           

Chief Technical Director at the PCJ, Earl Green told JIS News that the rising cost of energy and the domestic demand will be enough to generate interest among the general public to find out how the various methods that exist can be adopted to reduce demand and so save them money.

“The aim of the initiative is two-fold, to promote energy efficiency; and the utilisation of energy efficient equipment, gadgets, systems and programmes, the programmes that people will understand the benefits from the use of proper technology,” Mr. Green said.

“We have a number of energy efficient devices that have been developed over the years, but people in Jamaica are not aware of them and the extent to which they could use these devices to either be more energy efficient in their operations or to conserve in energy use,” he said.

In his remarks at the launch, Prime Minister Bruce Golding had explained that in addition to finding cheaper sources of fuel (renewable), the country had to increase its energy conservation thrust to encourage greater efficiency in energy use by Jamaicans.                                                         

“I really think that this is one that we have to ramp up, to inculcate in the minds of people, awareness and sensitivity to the fact that if we can save 10 per cent or 15 per cent, the difference that this could make to our competitiveness and to our own pockets,”  Mr. Golding said.

This second symposium is slated to commence at 5:30 p.m. with several noted experts in energy generation and renewable energy harvesting making presentations. 

CONTACT: O. RODGER HUTCHINSON