By Francine Black, Staff ReporterRISING OIL prices have sparked a search for renewable energy and the encouragement of a culture of energy conservation among Jamaicans. This goal is expected to be furthered with the offering of an intensive certificate course in alternative energy by the University of the West Indies (UWI) which is expected to begin soon.
The course will seek to equip qualified persons with the technical skills required to ensure better energy management and to develop new energy sources and technologies.
TEN SCHOLARSHIPS
The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) is also a part of the initiative and will be sponsoring 10 scholarships per year valued at $1 million annually over the next five years. The PCJ will also provide funding of approximately $1.8 million required to make the course a reality.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
A handing-over ceremony was held on Tuesday where a portion of the money to be used as financial support for the new course was presented to Professor Rex Nettleford, vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies. The ceremony was held at the institution.
Ruth Potopsingh, deputy group managing director at PCJ, noted that the institution was pleased to collaborate with UWI on this venture as the corporation has been involved in promoting renewable energy. She also noted that training in energy management and the development was critical and she believes this partnership will make the Government's vision a possibility.
"PCJ has every confidence in the administration of the UWI and we thank them for helping us to make the vision of the Government a reality."
The certificate course will begin in June 2005 and will be delivered by the Department of Physics at the UWI, Mona campus in collaboration with the Mona Institute of Applied Science (MIAS), the Department of Geography and the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute for Social and Economic Studies (SALISES) under the umbrella of the School for Graduate Studies and Research.
ENERGY-RELATED FIELDS
The programme is targeting environmentalists and persons already working in energy-related fields in the public and private sectors. It aims to expose participants to the basic concepts and principles involved in alternative energy technologies; the use of relevant scientific instruments especially related to wind and solar energy; data analysis techniques and the performance of energy audits as well as energy conservation, management and economics.
Professor Nettleford expressed appreciation to the PCJ for its support, noting that the development of the course comes against the background of rising oil prices, due primarily to rising demand, security concerns, supply constraints and resource depletion.
