Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
SAMPSON
MORE ENERGY-SAVING devices could be receiving import duty and GCT exemptions.
Director of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica's (PCJ) Energy Efficiency Unit, Dr. Cezley Sampson, met with Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies, last week to lobby for exemptions on a further 24 items to provide incentives for Jamaicans to adopt energy-saving technologies.
Currently, the exemptions apply to solar water heaters and solar power (photovoltaic) only.
Other products are currently subject to 16.5 per cent GCT and import duty of up to 20 per cent.
Dr. Sampson believes a reduction in such costs would see more consumers adopting energy-saving products.
DAVIES RECEPTIVE
"I met with the minister and he seemed receptive. It is important, and I hasten to add that the request is being made during Energy Conservation Month, that for energy conservation to be successful incentives must be provided," he said.
October is designated Energy Conservation Month and whatDr. Sampson hopes will be a change in national attitude in moving away from concerns over energy pricing to widespread adoption of energy-saving practices.
Maikel Oerbekke, president of the Jamaica Solar Energy Association (JSEA) and director of ecological technologies, who supply energy-saving devices, welcomed the possibility.
"The benefit is obvious; it will allow many more customers to afford the technology. The technology will pay for itself in the long term but the purchase cost can be a disincentive. This will also allow more importers and producers to enter into the market which might hopefully drive the price down."
Dr. Davies was, however, unavailable for comment.
