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.
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.
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
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
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.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=39792
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.
editorial@gleanerjm.com
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=39798
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.
editorial@gleanerjm.com
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=39798
Energy Minister Paulwell Paulwell has reportedly agreed to meet next week with the main trade union representing workers at the Jamaica Public Service Company, JPS.
It’s scheduled to take place on Wednesday.
The National Workers’ Union, NWU, wants answers on how plans by the Government to transform the energy sector will affect JPS and its employees
http://rjrnewsonline.com/business/paulwell-meet-union-representing-jps-workers
The Ministry of Science Technology, Energy and Mining (MSTEM) is mulling a change in how gas stations are licensed.
Out of a meeting between sector interests and Minister Phillip Paulwell on Monday, MSTEM said in a statement that the current licensing system may be contributing to the low margins that service station operators are now experiencing.
“On the issue concerning the inadequate profit margins being realised by the retailers, it was agreed that the number of service stations and their proximity to each other is contributing to the low margins,” the ministry said.
“Currently, the service stations are licensed by the Resident Magistrate courts and not by the ministry. The minister updated the meeting of the progress towards a one-stop-shop for licensing and registration of sector participants will help to resolve this problem.”
Monday’s meeting – which included representatives from the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers Association, and the National Workers Union, which represents tanker drivers and petroleum haulage contractors – centred on discussions about averting a shutdown of the petroleum sector.
MSTEM said going forward, the bi-monthly Petroleum Advisory Council would resume, starting in October.
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http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120906/business/business1.html
