McKeeva Bush, who is now leader of government business will be the territory’s first premier.

The constitution adds three seats to the 15-member parliament and sets a limit of two consecutive terms for the premier.

Minister of Energy and Mining, James Robertson (left), in discussion with Chairman of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, Jerry Butler (right), at the two-day Forum in Montego Bay

This announced on Friday at a two-day Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum by by Minister of Energy and Mining, James Robertson.

“Jamaica is on track for the development of waste-to-energy plants and as part of its mandate, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) has advanced an international tender process that has resulted in the selection of Cambridge Project Development Company and its partners, to finance, design, build, own and operate two waste-to-energy facilities in Jamaica,” he said.

“Provided that all goes well with the due diligence being conducted, these plants will be operated over a 20-year period through a joint venture of PCJ and the Cambridge Project group,” Robertson pointed out.

The Minister said that a total of 65 megawatts of electricity from the waste-to-energy project, would offset power that was today being generated with expensive imported fuel oil.

“In fact, these two plants will save or avoid the importation of over 700,000 barrels of fuel each year, representing a savings, at today’s relatively low oil prices, of approximately US$60 million annually. The two waste-to- energy plants will sell power to the national grid under power purchasing agreements and their power sales price will not be driven directly by international oil price, as the imported fuel oil is today. This means that the two facilities will represent a significant hedge against future oil price spikes, like the one experienced globally in 2008,” the Minister said.

He noted that the power to be generated from these two waste-to- energy facilities represents about 18 per cent the current electricity needs of the country, excluding the energy-intensive bauxite/alumina industry. “If the bauxite/alumina industry is included, then the two plants could generate approximately 7 per cent of the nation’s electricity requirements. We therefore look forward to the success of this project,” the Minister said.

Turning to the E-10 fuel diversification programme started in Jamaica in 2008, Robertson said that the present demand had exceeded projections.

“Early next month, there will be a full rollout of the E-10 programme to all parishes in Jamaica. The development of the Bio-fuels industry is targeted to provide ethanol from locally grown feedstock and to also provide export opportunities under the Caribbean Basin Initiative. In that regard, in November last year, Jamaica accepted an invitation to join the MOU between America and Brazil for the advancement of co-operation on Bio- fuels. This will be advanced in the near future,” the Minister said.

He emphasised that this was important and significant, not only to Jamaica’s energy sector, but to those of the entire region.

“As we come together as country representatives, private investors and the wider donor community, let us remember that we owe it to those we represent to leave here with solutions and plans of action that are timely, economical and implementable. Today we have an opportunity to move away from our splintered ways at tackling the challenges posed in implementing energy conservation and developing renewable,” the Minister told the participants.

Energy Ministers and officials from the Caribbean, a US government delegation, and representatives from the public and private sectors and development finance banks are participating in the forum, which will seek to discuss and drive forward, the renewable energy agenda for the region. ]]> http://sustainablecaribbean.com/2009/10/bio-fuels-plant-to-be-constructed-in-jamaica/feed/ 3 http://sustainablecaribbean.com/2009/10/is-corporate-social-responsibility-the-new-competitive-differentiator-for-capitalism/ http://sustainablecaribbean.com/2009/10/is-corporate-social-responsibility-the-new-competitive-differentiator-for-capitalism/#comments Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:32:09 +0000 admin http://sustainablecaribbean.com/?p=199 “The epicenter of the world economy is moving out of the west and changing the focus of corporate investment strategy. As a result, the 20th-century business model, which says business only exists to make a profit, is no longer valid. The new model is to build on the profit goal via sustainable globalization. This means business has to address global challenges in emerging markets like clean water, education, AIDS, and climate change in order to pave the way to growth and profits. Successful businesses in 5 to 10 years will be the ones that recognize this opportunity to address these challenges as a step to leading in emerging markets. Those who don’t will be left behind.”—E. Neville Isdell, chairman of Coca-Cola (now retired), paraphrased from remarks at the 2008 Clinton Global Initiative

This is excerpted from a speech delivered last year at the Clinton Global Initiative. With the epicenter of the world economy moving out of the west and into developing nations, how will this changing the focus affect corporate investment strategy?  Is it fair to say that because of this changing focus the 20th-century business model, which says business only exists to make a profit, is no longer valid?  The rate and by any means necessary philosophy that built the now industrialized nations, can certainly not be sustained as new epicenters of industrialization now begin to exist thought out the world.  Climate change is a real threat.  We know that industrialization drives pollution which threatens the atmosphere.  The new corporate social responsibility will be to industrialize and develop up and coming nations but not at the tax of the land, the people or the planet. Companies operating in these developing countries will have to spend a little more time ensuring that their business practices are not harming the local ecosystem.  That they are contributing to the well being of the people that work at their operations, local stakeholders and becoming a part of the community.  We are seeing today that it is driving a new level of competitiveness, in fact it is the building blocks to sustainability and it is the new Corporate Social Capitalism.

In determining the targets and ratios that will condition disbursement, the Board took into consideration the current level of CDF capital fund which now stands at US$77.7 million. It also considered the sustainability of the capital fund, the need to turn around project requests within three months, and issues of equity which will ensure that all eligible Member States have a reasonable expectation of accessing CDF resources. The CDF Board was also mindful of the global financial crisis and the increased challenge of raising donor funding in this environment.

To be eligible for consideration of grant or loan funding Member States must be fully paid up in accordance with the Agreement.

The governance rules and procedures will be posted on the CSME website on 21 August 2009.

The CARICOM Development Fund, which was established under Article 158 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Community including the CSME, will provide technical and financial assistance to those countries, regions and sectors so designated by the Community as “Disadvantaged Countries, Regions and Sectors”. ]]> http://sustainablecaribbean.com/2009/08/caricom-development-fund-to-commence-full-operations-next-week/feed/ 0 http://sustainablecaribbean.com/2009/07/mixed-reviews-environmental-lobbyists-weigh-in-on-energy-policys-renewables-target/ http://sustainablecaribbean.com/2009/07/mixed-reviews-environmental-lobbyists-weigh-in-on-energy-policys-renewables-target/#comments Fri, 31 Jul 2009 05:08:33 +0000 admin http://sustainablecaribbean.com/?p=34 MIXED REVIEWS

Environmental lobbyists weigh in on energy policy’s renewables target

BY PETRE WILLIAMS-RAYNOR Environment editor williamsp@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The environment sector has greeted with a mixture of pleasure and scepticism the Government’s move to have renewables, including solar, wind and hydro power, meet 20 per cent of Jamaica’s energy needs by 2030.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Marcia Forbes revealed earlier this month that the new energy policy was looking to have 15 per cent of the island’s energy mix accounted for by renewables by 2020. Environment Watch subsequently learnt from the draft policy document – to be submitted to Cabinet for approval shortly – that the figure would run to 20 per cent by 2030.

The effort comes as the island is striving to slash its oil bill, which came in at more than US$2 billion last year, and in accordance with Vision 2030 national development plan.

“That is a very good start. I am pleasantly surprised actually. I thought that it was going to be less than that. I am delighted to hear,” said Diana McCaulay, executive director of the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET). “To go for renewables to be a bigger and increasing percentage from the way we get energy is a very good decision.”

Environmental lobbyist Peter Espeut said he was happy for the 20 per cent but was really hoping that the target would have been 30 per cent.

“In 21 years, we can’t do more than get 20 per cent of our energy by renewables. I am under-whelmed,” said Espeut, former executive director of the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (CCAM) Foundation. “It is good. But nothing to jump up and shout about. It is not a sufficient quantum to be excited about.”

Franklyn McDonald, co-ordinator of the Institute of Sustainable Development at the University of the West Indies, Mona, welcomed the 20 per cent target. He, however, warned that it would be necessary to exceed the target, given the island’s current consumption and the associated cost.

“There have been targets set about making a percentage of our energy mix from as far back as the 2002 Johannesburg Summit on the environment,” McDonald told Environment Watch. “So this is probably just formalising some of those. This is something that is to be welcomed, but what we should be trying to do, given the energy situation of Jamaica, is exceed the targets. There is the need for us to deal with the issue of the target and the issue of energy efficiency. While we set targets we are still very inefficient in the use of the conventional fossil fuel, and that is something we also need to improve upon. So I hope the energy policy reflects the 2006 green commitments.”

At the same time, McDonald said that the crafters of the policy would have to ensure that provisions are made for the successful implementation and monitoring of the target.
“You want the targets set and then monitored,” he said. “We have very good diagnostic documents. The problem is that we have not stuck to the diagnostic documents through changes of international environment, government, etc, and we quietly forget the targets.”

Added McDonald: “There is also the challenge of policy harmonisation. So you set the energy policy but then you don’t reset the water targets.”

According to McDonald, the issue of energy efficiency needed to be addressed, having regard to the island’s heavy consumption of conventional sources of energy, notably oil.

The policy document itself answers McDonald’s concern.

“The implementation of this policy will be led by the Ministry of Energy and Mining, several other departments and agencies of Government as well as non-state stakeholders, including the private sector, NGOs and CBOs,” notes the draft policy document. “The involvement of all stakeholders is fundamental to the successful implementation of this policy. The Ministry of Energy and Mining will have the dual responsibilities of articulating the policy and co-ordinating the monitoring of its implementation. The first role will require it to set out clear guidelines to its departments and agencies and other sister ministries and their departments and agencies.”

Meanwhile, Forbes noted that accounted for in the percentage of renewables were biofuels (fuels made from plants), including Jatropha and ethanol about which there are lingering concerns over their impact on land use and the cost of food items, notably corn.

The permanent secretary has sought to allay the fears of those concerned by the growth in biofuels on the island.
“We are planning to mainly use marginal lands for growing the feedstock and are not looking at food stock like corn,” she said in a written response to Environment Watch queries.

For the time being at least, McCaulay said she was willing to give the Ministry of Mining and Energy and, by extension, the Government the benefit of the doubt when it came to addressing people’s concerns.

“I think like anything, all aspects of it have to be looked at. For example, Jamaica is a very good place for solar. But solar has batteries and so we have to find a way to deal with the batteries,” the Jet boss said. “I don’t know much about Jatropha, but from what I have read, there are waste issues with it. You want to ensure that where you put it is land that is already degraded in some way. With ethanol, there is a big difference between ethanol from corn and ethanol from sugar. So there is no ‘free lunch’ and what we have to ensure is that we look from cradle to grave to make the best decision for Jamaica.”

Espeut was not as understanding. For one thing, he said that biofuels were not renewable sources of energy and ought not to be treated as such, given their contributions to the concentration of greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere.

“Biofuels are not renewable. Renewable means it does not use up resources. So sun is renewable, hydro is renewable. With ethanol you have to produce corn or sugar and when you burn it, it still produces greenhouses gas, whereas geothermal does not, hydro power doesn’t and solar doesn’t,” said Espeut. “So if they are telling me that the extra 10 (or so) per cent (of renewables contribution to the energy mix) is going to be in ethanol and biofuels, I am under-whelmed.”

Fitzroy Vidal, senior energy engineer in the Ministry of Mining and Energy, has welcomed the comments of the players in the sector.

“That is what we want to hear,” he said of Espeut’s criticism of the 20 per cent target. “These figures are projected targets. We hope to surpass them. The only oil we have is from the sky, and that is sun, wind. therefore we must as a country mould our energy strategy around what we have. And supplement it with what we don’t have in strategic proportions.”

Still, he noted that they had set targets based on what they deemed achievable, having regard to the availability of resources and in the best interest of the various stakeholders.

“We are setting (targets) based on what we know is achievable. We have to now put the plans in place to achieve these targets. We are not pulling figures out of the sky,” Vidal told Environment Watch. “We have to look at the overall energy situation in the country because there are other players in the sector as well. We want a win/win for all the players. And certainly the consumers must benefit in terms of long-term stability and affordability.”

At the same time, he said measures needed to be put in place now to ensure the targets were realised.

“There is a whole host of things you have to do now to achieve your targets if we are to rebalance the energy situation,” he said. “Some of the things that need to happen is, we have to put a suitable renewable energy policy in place and suitable legislation to encourage investment in the sector.”