JAMAICA MUST IMPROVE ENERGY SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE

JAMAICA MUST IMPROVE ENERGY SECTOR INFRASTUCTURE:

Jamaica will have to improve its energy sector infrastructure and implement a comprehensive national energy diversification programme if Jamaicans are to receive affordable energy.

Minister of Information, Daryl Vaz told yesterday's (Nov 18) Post Cabinet Press Briefing, that this was the report received from the Cabinet Task Force on Energy.

"The analysis showed that the Jamaican economy is characterized by high energy intensity and low efficiency with relatively high per capita carbon dioxide emissions. Energy consumption is concentrated in three sectors-bauxite/alumina, power generation and transport. Focused implementation of efficiency improvement and conservation measures in these three sectors, is expected to significantly reduce the energy demands of the economy by 2020" the Information Minister explained.

He also noted that the Task Force had determined that natural gas as a diversification fuel, offers comparative advantage over other fuels.

Mr. Vaz said that the Cabinet Office, in collaboration with the Ministries of Energy and Mining, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Transport and Works, the Planning Institute of Jamaica will collaborate on an Action Matrix with respect to the various recommendations of the report.

The Task Force on Energy was established in October 2007 against the background of spiraling and unsustainable energy import bills. Its functions will be to determine the requirements for adequate electricity supplies in the short term, assess potential for the diversification of the energy supply for the generation of electricity, examine renewable and other alternative energy potential, determine effective energy conservation options and establish a framework for a long-term energy strategy.