Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are all smiles during a joint press briefing at Jamaica House last night. - WINSTON SILL/FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson Miller is on the verge of securing additional supplies of liquefied natural gas for the nation through a deal with the Malaysian Government.
Mrs. Simpson Miller made the disclosure last night at a press briefing staged in the lobby of the Office of the Prime Minister at Jamaica House after concluding bilateral discussions with Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and government officials from both countries.
Mrs. Simpson Miller also signalled the intention of the Government to invite experts from Malaysia to conduct offshore petroleum exploration.
"We have agreed to explore the opportunities for additional supplies of liquefied natural gas, as well as offshore petroleum exploration, in the face of ever-increasing energy costs," she said.
The disclosure of the pending new deal comes on the heels of a natural gas agreement which was sealed late last month between Jamaica and Caribbean Community partners, Trinidad and Tobago, where the latter pledged to provide Jamaica with a long-term supply of natural gas.
- Tyrone Reid
