MINISTER of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell is seeking to reassure the nation that
THE GENERAL election has been won, state power now rests with the People’s National Party (PNP), and Phillip Paulwell no longer appears to be excited about ensuring
AT LEAST two key industry players say there is no time for delay in the implementation of policy or other measures to
CLAIMING he was distressed at the price of electricity at US 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell said he is determined to ensure the full liberalisation of the energy sector to help drive down the electricity costs.
Speaking at a function in Kingston yesterday, Paulwell said that he was not prepared to wait on the Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) three-year plan to bring down the cost of electricity to the consumer.
“I believe we have to free up the system. We have to liberalise. We have to enable the private sector with their R&D (research and development) to decide on the best technology for Jamaica at this time,” Paulwell stated.
The liberalisation of the market will not happen by “sitting around and waiting on a plan from JPS that in three years’ time we are going to do so and so”, the minister noted.
“It is when you unleash the spirit of competition, the vibrancy of the market, allow our consumers to finally become the rulers when it comes to energy,” he said.
Earlier this month, the JPS
Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell
The Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) plan to invest US$616 million (J$53 billion) to construct a new liquefied
Arthur Hall,
ENERGY Minister Phillip Paulwell has announced that Opposition Spokesman on Energy Gregory Mair will be named to a National Energy Council that will be set up to preside over a range of developments and concerns relating to energy.
Paulwell, who was addressing an energy forum convened by the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica (AMCHAM) at the Knutsford Court Hotel on Thursday, described the issue of energy as being too critical for it to be the subject of political squabbles.
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Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell in discussion with Executive Director of AMCHAM Becky Stockhausen (left) and AMCHAM
Governments and good business people will always hire professional consultants to help them make the best decisions possible. Therefore we are not sure how much of an issue the below story is but if LNG is as bad for JA as it seems then why are we still paying consultants? We need to see what data he has uncovered to keep JA on this LNG path which will cost the country close to a US$1billion to implement with no guarantee LNG prices won’t skyrocket like oil. In other words it’s Monday and I am recovering from jazz fest so let’s all rest off and keep waiting for something substantial from the LNG steering committee to bring some light on this situation hopefully before none of us can afford to pay for our own light. Describing it as “quite a hefty sum”, Opposition Spokesman on Mining and Energy Phillip Paulwell has questioned the terms of reference which led the Government to be paying US$105,000 (or approximately J$8,9250,000) to an overseas consultant for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) project. On Saturday, the Office of the Contractor General, which is the secretariat for the National Contracts Commission, released the list of approved contracts for December 2010, among them being the engagement of Ernest Megginson by the Office of the Cabinet. Megginson has been hired to work on the country’s LNG project and is being paid the US$105,000 for three months’ service. “I would love to get further details on that, especially in light of other shortcomings with the project. That is quite an hefty sum being paid over, so I would love to see what are the terms of reference,” Paulwell told The Gleaner yesterday. However, Christopher Zacca, head of the steering committee that has been set up to lead the project, says there is nothing unusual about the sum being paid to Megginson. “This is comparable to what you would normally pay an overseas consultant,” Zacca said.  |