PCJ to Advance its Energy Conservation Programme

The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), this financial year, intends to advance its national conservation programme by promoting greater energy efficiency, including the use of power saving products.
As contained in a Ministry Paper tabled in the House of Representatives on June 1 by Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, the PCJ will be placing emphasis on energy diversification and the development of policy mechanisms to incorporate the use of renewable energy such as wind, biomass and solar, and cleaner fuels, including natural gas, into the local energy mix.
Policy objectives include accelerating the energy sector strategy, developing a co-generation plan and stimulating development of an ethanol industry for both domestic and export use. Assistance will also be sought in establishing the Energy Fund to increase access to energy efficiency products.
The paper notes, that the PCJ’s efforts to stimulate a national behavioural shift towards energy conservation, will include expanding demonstration projects, providing training in energy audits and public education and advertising.
The corporation’s numerous achievements for the 2004/2005 fiscal year were also outlined in the paper and these include the successful implementation of a 20-megawatt wind farm at Wigton, Manchester and the staging of a combustion trial at the Frome Sugar Factory in Westmoreland, to determine the suitability of wood chips for fuel wood in industrial operations.A number of solar water heaters were sold to consumers, in addition to 220,000 compact fluorescent lamps.
The Nigerian crude oil contract was renewed to October 2004; gasoline and diesel were sold to Costa Rica; petroleum supplies were secured from Ecuador and negotiations continued with the Ecuadoran government with the view to long term contractual arrangements; and a memorandum of understanding was signed with an investor to explore the feasibility of establishing an oil refinery at Font Hill, St. Elizabeth.
Numerous objectives were achieved under the energy efficiency and conservation programme including the establishment of an energy efficiency unit; airing of radio discussion programmes; conducting energy-related seminars focusing on the health sector and local government; and commencement of energy efficient projects at the Princess Margaret, St. Ann’s Bay, Cornwall Regional and the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston.
Further achievements under the programme were the implementation of an energy audit and retrofitting of the PCJ building; conducting training on how to handle highly hazardous chemicals; initiating a framework for an environmental management system within the PCJ group and the institution of a consultancy project with funding support from the Inter American Development Bank (IDB).
The budgetary proposal of the company for 2005/2006 is approximately $306.49 million.
The PCJ, as mandated by the Petroleum Act of 1979, undertakes the development and promotion of Jamaica’s energy resources and where necessary, seeks business partners through joint ventures with the private sector.