The Jamaica Energy Partners' (JEP) new Dr. Bird II Power Barge based at the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) plant at Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine. Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller attended the launch of the barge on Thursday night, which is expected to provide almost 50 megawatts of
electricity to the national grid. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
WITH JAMAICA'S national import fuel bill projected to increase from US$1.3 billion to $1.5 billion this year, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is urging Jamaicans to 'make energy conservation our business'.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said Thursday night that Government would lead by example with a target of increasing efficiency in energy generation by two per cent each year over the next 20 years. This as part of the draft national energy policy which, referring to an 'excessive dependence' on imported oil, recommends a greater emphasis on conservation and renewables.
CONSUMER CONSCIOUSNESS
The Prime Minister said the policy should soon be ready.
"We must become more disciplined with our energy consumption, we cannot afford to use more energy than is necessary. We must urge consumer consciousness," she said.
Peak fuel consumption in Jamaica occurs during early evening as people return home from work, while in economically developed Japan, the peak is in mid-afternoon which coincides with peak industrial production. Dr. Raymond Wright, former managing director of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), has used this comparison to demonstrate the need for greater efficiency and conservation of energy.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the official launch of the new 49.5 Megawatt power generation barge at the Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPS) Old Harbour Plant in St. Catherine. The barge, called Dr. Bird II, will augment Jamaica's current capacity of over 700 MW, increasing the reserve capacity from about 20 per cent to almost 30 per cent.
According to Charles Matthews, outgoing chief executive officer of JPS, this extra capacity should reduce the likelihood of the national grid suffering power outages. He added however that, by 2008, more capacity will have to be added as electricity consumption continues to rise.
Dr. Bird II is owned by Jamaica Energy Partners (JEP), which is the largest of three independent power providers on the island. JEP's other barge, Dr. Bird I, is docked next to it and has a capacity of 74.12 Megawatts.
Plans to increase Jamaica's capacity over the next three years will be outlined by
Phillip Paulwell Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce during his sectoral presentation in Parliament next week.
Government is encouraging members of the public to read and respond to the national energy policy green paper.
It can be viewed and
responded to online at the Cabinet Office website: http://www.cabinet.gov.jm/
