Full Enterprese Team named for energy plant negotiations

The Jamaican Cabinet has now approved the full membership of the Enterprise Team which will see to the selection of a company to  establish a new energy plant, preferably using liquified natural gas.

A release from the Office of the Prime Minister also asserts that Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell will continue to have a "statutory role" in the matter.

Known formally as the Electricity Sector Enterprise Team (ESET), the negotiating body is chaired by Dr. Vincent Lawrence, whose appointment had been previously announced, along with two private sector representatives, Joseph M. Matalon and William Mahfood.

They have now been joined by Winston Hay, a former Director-General of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Professor Alvin Wint, a member of the Coordinating Committee of  the Partnership Council, and Trade Unionist Helene Davis Whyte.

The Enterprise Team was set up last month, following the recommendation that the licence granted to Energy World International (EWI) for a 381 megawatt plant, be revoked.

Terms of Reference 

According to a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister, the Terms of Reference include the management of the procurement process, in consultation with the Office of Utilities Regulation, the Jamaica Public Service Company and the Energy Minister, for the development of new electricity generation capacity.      

The Team will report to and advise the Prime Minister and Cabinet on “the urgent replacement of base load generation with a more efficient plant that utilizes lower cost fuel and provides reliable and affordable electricity.”  

Paulwell’s role

The release made it clear however, that Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell “has responsibility for the Energy Sector and will continue to discharge his statutory duties.”

Paulwell was widely criticized for his role in the previous process which led to the award of a licence to EWI. There were some calls for him to be fired from the Cabinet while others demanded that he be relieved of any further responsibility relating to this project.

The appointment of the Enterprise Team was interpreted as being, in part, a concession to demands for a change in the management of the process.

OUR

The role of the OUR ”in the overall regulation of the electricity sector as outlined in the OUR Act will be maintained,” the release stated.

The OPM statement concluded with a promise that “the Cabinet will provide complete, transparent and regular updates to the country, as circumstances - legal and otherwise, allow.”