Robertson Says NEP Will Protect Energy Investments

Minister of Energy and Mining, the Hon. James Robertson, is contending that Government’s efforts to implement the National Energy Policy (NEP), particularly focusing on renewable energy, will protect approximately US$3 billion in investments anticipated for the sector.
Mr. Robertson noted that with energy efficiency and conservation central to efforts to reduce Jamaica’s fuel bill, and the thrust towards modernizing and diversifying energy generation and fuel use, the country was “looking at up to US$3 billion worth of investments.”

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson (right), speaking with Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) President, Joseph M. Matalon, during Wednesday’s (September 15) launch of the European Union (EU) funded joint PSOJ/Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) ‘Capacity Building of Caribbean Private Sector Environmental and Energy Management Capabilities’ project, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston, on Wednesday (September 15).

“That’s not a small amount of money,” the Minister said, arguing that the policies that are being put in place will protect and drive this level of investment. He also pointed to several sub-policies of the Policy which have either been drafted or are being pursued.
These include: the draft of the Renewable Energy Policy, which has been posted on the Ministry’s website; the draft of the Waste Energy policy, which will be posted this week for public consideration; bio-energy fuels energy policy; and the carbon emissions and trading policy.
“The Ministry of Energy and Mining is committed and being driven to give this country the policies and the platform for us to really and truly speak with one voice, in terms of our seriousness in energy conservation,” he assured.
The Capacity Building of the Caribbean Private Sector Environmental and Energy Management Capabilities project is being jointly undertaken by the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), and Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) based in Trinidad and Tobago and funded by the European Union (EU).

Minister of Energy and Mining, Hon. James Robertson (right), presenting copies of Jamaica’s National Energy Policy to Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Chief Executive Officer, Sandra Glasgow, during Wednesday’s (September 15) launch of the European Union (EU) funded PSOJ/Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) ‘Capacity Building of Caribbean Private Sector Environmental and Energy Management Capabilities’ project, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston.

It will cost 790,818 pounds ($82 million), and involves an assessment of the policy framework for energy and environmental management, relative to the private sector.
Mr. Robertson assured the PSOJ and the CAIC that the government is in full support and in step with their objectives.