JPSCo needs expansion

Pickersgill

Mining and Energy Minister Robert Pickersgill said last Wednesday that the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) needed to develop and implement plans to meet the island's six per cent per annum growth in electricity demand.

The current peak demand of 510 megawatts is served by a combined Jamaica Public Service Company/independent power producer capacity of 660 megawatts.

"The company must therefore develop and implement capacity expansion plans to ensure the continued availability of a reliable and adequate power supply for the nation," he said in his contribution to the 2000/2001 Sectoral Debate in Gordon House.

Growth

According to the Government's news agency JAMPRESS, Mr. Pickersgill said residential consumption had grown at an average of 10 per cent during the past three years, while industrial growth had stagnated.

"The JPSCo is therefore seeking to stimulate industrial demand to rebalance the structure of electricity usage," he told the House of Representatives.

The Mining and Energy Minister said the JPSCo would have to cut costs to provide more competitive electricity prices and greater profitability.

"These twin objectives are important to our producers who must compete in the industrial arena, as well as the company, which must ensure its long term viability to maintain and expand the power supply system," he stated.

He said the general issue of cost was linked to the problem of system losses, which remained high and which when reduced would contribute to a lowering of the company's operating costs.

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