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Use JPS shares to acquire grid

September 13, 2012 jrobinson

ATTORNEY-AT-LAW Hugh Wildman on Tuesday urged the Government to use its 19 per cent share in the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to acquire the electricity grid from the light and power company in an effort to accommodate energy providers who would want to enter the market.

Wildman, the attorney for the group of persons who had the Supreme Court struck down the exclusivity aspect of the JPS’s 20-year all-island licence, said that the grid should be in State control in order for Jamaica to benefit from affordable energy.

“Persons are expressing an interest in providing energy. What the Government needs to do now is use its 19 per cent share to acquire the grid from the JPS to allow other players to come on board,” said Wildman, who was speaking at the Kiwanis weekly luncheon at the Wyndham Hotel in New Kingston.

Wildman said that there are new players out there with better technology that would benefit consumers.

“Without cheaper energy Jamaica is going nowhere but down. Jamaica deserves better,” Wildman said.

The way was made clear for other players to enter the energy market when Justice Bryan Sykes on July 30 struck down the exclusivity aspect of JPS’s licence, issued by the energy minister in 2001. At the same time though, Sykes said that the all-island aspect of the licence was valid.

JPS has since appealed the ruling. So too have Dennis Meadows, Betty Ann Blaine and Cyrus Rousseau, the group of people who have brought the action against the JPS.

The claimants are asking the Court of Appeal to declare the licence invalid. The claimants are set to argue that only one licence was issued to the JPS and that it cannot be divided to make one part valid and another part invalid, as was done by the Supreme Court. The claimants are contending that the Electric Lighting Act prevents an entity from providing electricity across the entire island.

New building codes to maximize energy use

September 11, 2012 Webmaster

The country has now signed off on a new building code which seeks to maximize energy usage in new developments.

Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell made the disclosure during a meeting with members of the Jamaica Institute of Engineers, JIE over the weekend.

Alternative Energy Government News Oil

CARICOM Countries Agree To Join Forces In Renewable Energy Push

September 10, 2012 jrobinson

CARICOM-member countries have agreed to work together to ensure adequate support for the region’s renewable energy push.

The commitment came out of a meeting held last Friday at the conclusion of a two-day renewable energy summit in the Republic of Malta, organised by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

State minister in the ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Julian Robinson, who was Jamaica’s representative at the summit, called the early-morning meeting of CARICOM member states in attendance, to examine how the region could interact with entities like IRENA to source assistance, grants, and other financial instruments, “to facilitate joined-up projects rather than compete head on for instruments from the same global financial pie”.

Robinson pointed out, many of the smaller countries lose out to the larger and better resourced ones when trying to source financial assistance.

According to Robinson, arising from the meeting, the eight CARICOM countries represented agreed in principle to work together to complete a renewable energy assessment within the region.

He said the members also pledged to “examine the possibilities of harmonising regulations and legislative framework for renewables, which will allow all investors to invest within the region in complement, not competition”.

They have also agreed to carry out work with regulators on renewable energy initiatives.

The group also resolved to increase the CARICOM presence in the IRENA. Only two countries, Antigua and Barbuda, and Grenada, are currently members.

The eight CARICOM countries represented at the Malta summit were Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Barbados, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Dominica.

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Government JPS LNG News

Smell Of Death Hits LNG Idea

September 10, 2012 Webmaster

Paulwell

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

There are clear indications that the long-proposed introduction of liquefied natural gas (LNG) into Jamaica’s energy mix could be abandoned.

It now seems certain that with the current price of LNG, the Government will not achieve the expected 30 to 40 per cent reduction in the cost of electricity to the Jamaican consumer, and that could lead to the death of the project which was first put on the table more than 10 years ago.

Last month, the head of the LNG Steering Committee, Dr Carlton Davis, told a

Government JPS News Oil

Will JPS Save The LNG Project?

September 10, 2012 jrobinson

President and CEO of JPS, Kelly A. Tomblin.-Rudolph Brown/Photographer

The much maligned and criticised Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) could be the one to save the Government‘s floundering liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which will bring cheaper electricity to Jamaicans.

Having stuck to the letter of the law and prevented the parent company of the JPS, Marubeni Corporation, from bidding to supply LNG to Jamaica, the Government now seems ready to eat humble pie and beg the firm for help.

Marubeni had wanted to submit a bid to supply the LNG to Jamaica but was disqualified after it arrived minutes after the 5 p.m. deadline.

However, with the qualified bidders offering prices that would not lead to any appreciable decline in the cost of electricity to Jamaicans, it appears negotiations are set to be initiated with Marubeni.

“The prices quoted by the bidders are much higher than Jamaica can pay and would not attract the JPS or the bauxite companies,” a source close to the talks told

News

Tropical Storm Leslie Disrupts Power, Trigger Flooding In Bermuda

September 10, 2012 jrobinson

Tropical Storm Leslie has hit Bermuda with high winds and heavy rains, causing power outages and flooding in parts of the island.

However, there were no immediate reports of major damage or personal injuries.
The Bermuda Electric Light Company reported five major power outages, knocking out power to 650 customers, before Leslie, packing sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, passed the island just before noon around 145 miles to the east.

Bus and ferry services as well as flights were cancelled, with the exception of a British Airways flight from London, which was scheduled to land in the afternoon.

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Government LNG News

Samsung Team To Visit Jamaica For LNG Talks

September 10, 2012 jrobinson

A team from South Korean company Samsung is to visit the island this week to hold talks with the government on its LNG project.

Samsung has emerged as the preferred bidder for the development and operation of the LNG floating storage and re-gasification terminal.

It is understood that Samsung has written to the Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell asking for a meeting with him and all the parties involved.

Paulwell has admitted that after three months, a formal deal is yet to be struck with Samsung.

He stressed that the negotiation is a process and the government is proceeding with caution.

The government had projected to introduce LNG by 2014 but there are doubts that this timeline may be achieved because the administration is yet to secure a supplier of the LNG.

There are also fears that the current cost of the fuel may prohibit the government from realising its aim of reducing the cost of electricity by 30 per cent.

Paulwell said he is awaiting the final report from the LNG steering committee, which is due this month.

He added that after reviewing the report, the government will indicate its position going forward.

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