PS Urges Use of Energy Policy Provisions

KINGSTON — Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Hillary Alexander, says there is need to implement provisions of Jamaica's energy policy to address challenges, including high costs.

Speaking at the inaugural Dr, Raymond Wright Memorial Lecture at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), on Thursday (November 10), Ms. Alexander noted that the Government spent over $1 billion importing some 20 million barrels of oil last year. Transportation and electricity generation accounted for a significant percentage of the consumption of the imported oil, at 28 and 33 per cent, respectively.

Ms. Alexander pointed to figures for 2010, which showed that the percentage of alternative energy generated amounted to the equivalent of some 816,000 barrels of oil, which she termed “not an insignificant saving on our fuel import bill”. 

“Today, there is consensus that energy is the key to revolutionizing our productive base and our national competitiveness, even as the current trends are serious causes for concern and require both short and long term solutions,” she said.

She noted that Dr. Wright, the late former Group Managing Director of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), understood the challenges associated with the availability and provisions of energy, locally.

“He understood that the challenge for manufacturers, investors and other players in the business sector, is to be creative and innovative in implementing cleaner energy solutions, in conserving and doing more with what we have,” she stated.

She said Dr. Wright saw and embraced the need for investing in cleaner technologies, and the adoption of energy management strategies placing greater reliance on alternative energy sources to allow developers and producers a competitive advantage  in the global economy.

The Permanent Secretary said Dr. Wright was also a proponent of exploring the wide range of low carbon technologies available, as well as others that need to be pursued and implemented in the fight against climate change.

“He knew that the transition towards clean energy is a part of the responsibility that we have to preserve the environment, not just for ourselves, but for future generations. And we have been exploring a number of the solutions to address these challenges,” she said.

 She noted that the wind powered Wigton Farm is now up to 38 megawatts, and the ministry is exploring the possibility of using mini hydro, as well as several other options to add to the diversification goals.

In expressing satisfaction with the work of the Energy and Mining Ministry’s staff over the last two years in modernising the energy infrastructure and pursuing energy diversification, she acknowledged that the initiatives would have a long term impact on the society.

“Dr. Wright has been a part of this; he has been an integral part of this, in fact, and he contributed to our national energy policy. We have an enviable policy framework, but… that’s not enough. We have to now move to implementation,” Ms. Alexander stressed

Guest presenter at the lecture was Alcan Professor of Caribbean Sustainable Development, Institute for Sustainable Development, University of the West Indies (UWI), Anthony Clayton, who spoke on “The Transition to a Clean Energy Economy”. The lecture formed part of activities in observance of CARICOM Energy Week, November 6 to 12.

The late Dr. Wright, who died in July after a prolonged illness, joined the then newly formed Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica Group of Companies in 1979, as Director of Exploration. He rose through the ranks to be appointed Group Managing Director in 1994, a position he held for 11 years until he was appointed Special Projects Manager.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter

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