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Offer More Incentives For Renewable Energy – CaPRI

July 25, 2013 jrobinson

The regional think tank, Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), is urging Caribbean governments to diversify the incentives being offered in the renewable energy market.

Presenting an update on its renewable-energy research that it expects will influence policies and inform potential investors on the way forward in the sector, CaPRI’s renewable energy programme manager, Dr Suzanne Shaw, said the research has revealed that the region should be aiming for greater diversification of incentives in the renewable energy market.

Shaw said though there were incentives dedicated to renewable energies, many of them were tax incentives.

She also noted that there were attempts to change this with the implementation of net-billing schemes in countries such as Barbados and Jamaica but more needs to be done.

“We are hoping to get to a stage where we have a more diverse policy mix that can really treat the needs of the various technologies we find in the Caribbean,” Shaw said.

Ja is ahead of the pack

She said the research, which started in 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2015, has also revealed that Jamaica is ahead of the curve in the drafting of renewable-energy policies.

“There are policies in place in many Caribbean countries and I think it is fair to say that Jamaica is ahead in the development of renewable-energy policies,” Shaw said

She said there were two parts to the research being conducted and these would help both regional policy makers and the private sector to push the renewable-energy sector forward.

“What we are trying to do is on one hand influence policies in Caribbean countries to create an enabling environment to allow renewable energy to emerge and occupy the place that it can occupy as an economic alternative to conventional energy sources,” Shaw said.

She added that CaPRI is trying to also make sure enough information is available to potential investors so that they can develop viable energy projects and increase implementation.

CaPRI’s research has also received high marks from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining.

Hillary Alexander, permanent secretary in the ministry, said the research was interesting and would add value to the work the ministry is currently undertaking.

She said CaPRI has been approached to share its preliminary findings with the ministry.

The Jamaica Gleaner;

Alternative Energy Electricity Government News Solar Energy

Offer More Incentives For Renewable Energy – CaPRI

July 25, 2013 Webmaster

The regional think tank, Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), is urging Caribbean governments to diversify the incentives being offered in the renewable energy market.

Shaw said though there were incentives dedicated to renewable energies, many of them were tax incentives.

She also noted that there were attempts to change this with the implementation of net-billing schemes in countries such as Barbados and Jamaica but more needs to be done.

“We are hoping to get to a stage where we have a more diverse policy mix that can really treat the needs of the various technologies we find in the Caribbean,” Shaw said.

Ja is ahead of the pack

She said the research, which started in 2011 and is expected to be completed in 2015, has also revealed that Jamaica is ahead of the curve in the drafting of renewable-energy policies.

“There are policies in place in many Caribbean countries and I think it is fair to say that Jamaica is ahead in the development of renewable-energy policies,” Shaw said

She said there were two parts to the research being conducted and these would help both regional policy makers and the private sector to push the renewable-energy sector forward.

She added that CaPRI is trying to also make sure enough information is available to potential investors so that they can develop viable energy projects and increase implementation.

CaPRI’s research has also received high marks from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining.

Hillary Alexander, permanent secretary in the ministry, said the research was interesting and would add value to the work the ministry is currently undertaking.

She said CaPRI has been approached to share its preliminary findings with the ministry.

The Jamaica Gleaner;

Alternative Energy Electricity Government News Solar Energy

Jamaica leads with zero-energy buildings

July 23, 2013 Webmaster

(From left) Professor E Nigel Harris, Vice Chancellor, University of the West Indies (UWI) in conversation at the launch of the Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Buildings project, with Professor Anthony Clayton; Dr Camille Bell-Hutchinson; Edu Hassing and Professor Tara Dasgupta

BUILDINGS which generate as much or more power than they consume.

That is the future for Jamaica

Alternative Energy Electricity Government News Solar Energy

Jamaica leads with zero-energy buildings

July 23, 2013 jrobinson

BUILDINGS which generate as much or more power than they consume.

That is the future for Jamaica

Government JPS News

Street Light Audit To Be Completed By September

July 19, 2013 Webmaster

Within the next two months, the Government should be in a position to tell taxpayers how much they have been forking out to pay for non-functioning street lights.

Dahlia McDonald, public relations officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, told

Government News

Paulwell’s Petrojam plan – Upgrade to be done by 2016

July 1, 2013 Webmaster

ENERGY minister Phillip Paulwell has set a deadline of January 2016 for the completion of the expansion and upgrade of the state-run oil refinery Petrojam.

Paulwell, guest speaker on Monday at two Constant Spring Road-based service stations which have introduced the eco-friendly Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, said the construction had to be along that timetable.

A section of the government-operated oil refinery Petrojam.

“We have been told the new generating capacity of electricity will be in place by January, 2016, so we have to finish the expansion and upgrade of the refinery by then,” Paulwell told Auto.

Paulwell, the minister of science, technology, energy and mining, said he would advance the argument at tomorrow’s PetroCaribe Summit in Nicaragua.

Jamaica is one of 18 countries which benefit from the PetroCaribe agreement, drafted by the now deceased

Government News

Jamaica To Raise Petrojam Upgrade At PetroCaribe Summit

June 26, 2013 jrobinson

A section of the Petrojam refinery in Kingston.

The Jamaican government says it will establish a “firm” schedule to implement the upgrading and expansion of the Petrojam refinery, as it seeks to make the operations more modern and efficient.

Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell, said the issue will be discussed at the 8th PetroCaribe Summit, scheduled for June 29, in Nicaragua.

“We have been talking too long about the upgrade of this refinery, it has been producing for us for close to 40 years. We are now on a firmer path, especially since the new president of Venezuela has assumed office, to pursue some of the things that were not done, over the last five years, including the expansion and upgrade of the Petrojam refinery,” he said.

Paulwell said the government is hoping to move this process a step closer to fruition, with the Venezuelan government having already committed, as part of the economic zone of PetroCaribe, a relationship which will see value added, along with efficiency.

In May, during the PetroCaribe ministerial meeting in Venezuela member states agreed on an economic zone to boost regional development and Paulwell said that Jamaica will eventually produce its own ultra-low sulphur diesel, as this will be synchronised with upgrading of the refinery.

“We are importing this fuel, and it’s not our intention that this will be a long-lasting activity. The day will soon come when we will be producing this fuel in Jamaica.”

2006 agreement

In 2006 Jamaica signed an agreement with Venezuela for a 49 per cent stake in Petrojam, and as part of the agreement, production should have moved from an average of 30,000 to 50,000 barrels of petroleum products daily, starting in 2007, but this output has not yet been realised.

“We are now back on track. We have to update some of the financials, and the first thing the Board has agreed to do, with the support of Venezuela, is to get that front-end engineering design project updated, so that we have figures that are more realistic than the2007/2008 figures,” Paulwell said.

Paulwell said that many of the features of the expansion project are now more positive than they were in 2007, to justify the expansion and upgrading of the refinery.

“It will enable us to produce those things that we use in Jamaica – LPG, gasolene, and low sulphur diesel – so that we will be almost self-sufficient, and be able to export some of it,” he said, pointing out that the by-product, petcoke, will enable the generation of 100 megawatts of cheap electricity.

“What we will be doing this weekend in Nicaragua is to establish the firm schedule towards its implementation and funding,” the minister said.

Upgrading of the refinery will ensure its viability in the long-term and allow for the installation of treatment facilities to meet new environmental specifications for diesel oil, and gasolene.

Additionally, Paulwell said discussions will be held at the Summit on the trade compensation mechanism aspect of the PetroCaribe Agreement, which allows Jamaica to trade goods and services, as part of the process of repaying PetroCaribe loans.

“We have a very significant development, which we hope will be crystallised this week, in Nicaragua,” he said.

Under PetroCaribe, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries benefit from preferential rates on crude oil, refined products, and LPG or its energy equivalent, from Venezuela.

The payment arrangement allows for purchase of oil on market value for 40 per cent up-front, within 90 days. The remainder of the payment can be made over a period of 25 years with one per cent interest, provided that oil prices are above US$40 per barrel.

– CMC

Electricity Government News

360 mw energy project delay irks PSOJ

June 26, 2013 Webmaster

PRIVATE Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) President Christopher Zacca says the body is “extremely disappointed” by another delay in the Office of Utilities Regulation’s (OUR) decision on the award of the 360 megawatt energy project.

“Quite frankly, the PSOJ is concerned that we will miss the 2015 deadline for the introduction of new generation and we simply cannot afford to,” Zacca told Monday night‘s installation ceremony of the Rotary Club of St Andrew North at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston.

ZACCA

Government News

New diesel fuel now at pumps

June 26, 2013 jrobinson

ENERGY Minister Phillip Paulwell said the new Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel (ULSD), which was yesterday introduced to the Jamaican market, is essential in preserving diesel engines with advanced emission controls as well as protecting the environment.

“The ULSD is expected to preserve our environment and make our vehicles last longer as sulphur contains pollutants. So lower sulphur means less exhaust and cleaner air,” Paulwell told the audience at the special ceremony to launch the fuel at Petcom Dunrobin service station in St Andrew. “A number of our SUVs have the advance emission controls, so the introduction of the fuel makes the cost of performance cheaper and mileage good.”

Science,Technology, Energy, and Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell and Kingston Mayor Angella Brown Burke cut the ribbon on one of the service pumps that will supply the Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel. Behind them (from left) are general manager of Petcom, Courtney Lawes, sales and marketing manager of Petcom, Alphanso Chambers and managing director of Petcom Dunrobin, Wayne Boothe. (PHOTO: GARFIELD ROBINSON)

According to Paulwell, the introduction of ULSD is a component of plans to improve the quality of fuel produced and expansion of the Petrojam oil refinery.

“The production is in sync with the refinery expansion from 30,000 barrels per day to 50,000. The upgrade will enable us to improve our liquid petroleum gas, E-10 gasoline, automotive diesel oil, and jet/turbo fuel,” he said.

Paulwell said manufacturers of diesel vehicles with advanced emission controls had refused to sell to car dealers in Jamaica as the fuel was not compatible with the new model vehicles.

The new fuel, with a sulphur content of 15 parts per million, is expected to improve mileage on vehicles and be more beneficial to the environment. It will also see a reduction in exhaust smoke, sulphur emissions, and exhaust odour.

Telroy Morgan, Petrojam’s production manager, told the Jamaica Observer that $120 per litre diesel is in accordance with the refinery’s pricing policy.

“The ULSD will be sold at 10 per cent above the cost of regular diesel. The price is higher but efficiency is greater,” he said.

Wayne Boothe, managing director of Petcom Dunrobin, expressed his gratitude to Petrojam.

“The good thing is motorists were the ones who demanded this because of the effect it has on engines. The diesel is clean and it is better for our health, so I expect a great turnout throughout the week from motorists,” he said.

The ULSD will have a light yellow [straw] colour, while the regular diesel will have a red colour to enable differentiation between the two fuels.

As similar launch was held at Shell Gore Terrace in St Andrew.

Government News

New diesel fuel now at pumps

June 26, 2013 Webmaster

According to Paulwell, the introduction of ULSD is a component of plans to improve the quality of fuel produced and expansion of the Petrojam oil refinery.

Paulwell said manufacturers of diesel vehicles with advanced emission controls had refused to sell to car dealers in Jamaica as the fuel was not compatible with the new model vehicles.

Telroy Morgan, Petrojam’s production manager, told the Jamaica Observer that $120 per litre diesel is in accordance with the refinery’s pricing policy.

“The ULSD will be sold at 10 per cent above the cost of regular diesel. The price is higher but efficiency is greater,” he said.

Wayne Boothe, managing director of Petcom Dunrobin, expressed his gratitude to Petrojam.

The ULSD will have a light yellow [straw] colour, while the regular diesel will have a red colour to enable differentiation between the two fuels.

As similar launch was held at Shell Gore Terrace in St Andrew.

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