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By Javaughn Keyes
The private sector is urging an acceleration in the rollout of solutions to make local energy cheaper.
Metry Seaga, President of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ), says Jamaican businesses continue to lament the high cost of electricity.
Noting that Jamaica ranks 142 out of 146 countries with the highest electricity charges globally in 2021, Mr. Seaga explained that the country's energy prices are more than double the global average, which puts the nation at a serious disadvantage.
"We strive to excel, but unfortunately our energy prices are helping to hold us back. As it stands, Jamaica's current energy situation is simply unsustainable. Jamaica has the highest energy poverty status among 82 low to middle income countries per the energy poverty assessment published last year," he added.
However, Mr. Seaga lauded the policy goal of having 30 per cent of local energy generation coming from renewable sources by 2030.
He said local businesses have a major role to play in helping Jamaica transition to renewable energy sources.
"This must be a national imperative for the private sector to partner with the government, invest in research and development and contribute to a comprehensive energy strategy for Jamaica. This strategy must focus on renewables to make our businesses more competitive and our country more resilient in facing the global energy transition.
"Renewable energy is not just a matter of environmental responsibility, it is a matter of economic urgency. If we transition to renewable energy we stand to reduce our operating costs significantly," he said, noting that the country will be able to attract more investment, build a more robust economy and put Jamaica on the path of sustainable development.
The new CEO of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Steve Berberich, has said he is aware of the energy concerns in Jamaica.
In addition to the cost, he admitted that reliability is another issue.
"We intend to dramatically increase the number of crews so that we can pivot to a proactive maintenance stance, posture and to more quickly respond to problems when they occur. Rates are punishingly high. Contributing to them being higher than they should be is a reliance on imported fuel and theft on the system. Adding renewables should help mitigate the fuel costs and volatility impact over time, and we are 100?hind that," he said.
Mr. Berberich and Mr. Seaga were speaking at a PSOJ forum on Wednesday.
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