THE Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and University of Technology (UTech) recently collaborated on a one-day workshop designed to teach non-technical professionals about the energy sector and how it affects their lives and businesses.
Billed ‘Demystifying the Energy Industry’, the event targeted business people, entrepreneurs, banking and insurance executives, among others. It zeroed in such areas as energy costs and renewable alternatives to fossil fuels.
IDB Country Representative Therese Turner-Jones noted that “because energy is a complex and technical topic, discussions are often dominated by energy sector professionals”.
But the workshop, she said, would help non-technical professionals “navigate discussions involving issues like petroleum-derived fuel products, natural gas, wind, solar, waste-to-energy, biofuels and energy efficiency”.
Dr Ruth Potopsingh, associate vice-president of Sustainable Energy at UTech noted that “knowledge of the energy sector can better equip us all to make sound business decisions”.
IDB Consultant Dr Earl Green presented the results of the IDB/DBJ Energy Efficiency Pilot Projects for Small & Medium Enterprises and a video called Success Stories in Energy Efficiency in Jamaica.
Lumas Kendrick Jr, senior energy specialist, IDB, moderated a panel discussion on Finding Solutions for Jamaica’s Energy Sector Challenges, which included panellists Fitzroy Vidal, director of energy, Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining; Christopher Brown, business development manager, Development Bank of Jamaica; Dr Ruth Potopsingh, associate vice-president-Sustainable Energy, UTech; and IDB/DBJ Grant recipients Yorkin Waltes, owner, Triple Seven Farms and Pauline Wilson, general manager, Pioneer Meats.