Turks & Caicos Islands Government Press Release, 01 Oct 2014 – Deputy Secretary, Russell Cox and Energy and Utilities Commissioner, Malike Cummings attended the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) forums in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, 22-23 of September 2014.
The annual renewable energy forum considered how to work towards achieving greater acceptance and increased integration of renewable energy generation into the energy mix. Both also attended the Regulatory Forum, co- sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the World Bank, on the 24 September, 2014.
Malike Cummings, presented a paper at the Renewable Energy Forum titled; Energy Policy and Strategy Solution-The Case of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). This outlined the core policy principles and actions to address the barriers to sustainable energy in the TCI. The paper acknowledges the need to take advantage of integrative and comprehensive approaches, targeting legislative and regulatory framework reforms, operational efficiency improvement as well as energy efficiency initiatives, renewable energy integration with consideration and assessment given also to the integration of future viable alternative fuels into the energy mix.
The Regulatory Forum session which targeted an audience comprising, ministers, regulators, government representatives and management from several electric utilities across the region. The various stakeholder perspectives were brought to the fore, culminating in the documenting of regulatory solutions for further evaluation and implementation, in an effort to address the regulatory challenges facing the Caribbean energy sector, as well as the identification of opportunities to enable efficient renewable energy integration.
Russell Cox said: “I was very impressed with the content of these strategic talks. It was very helpful to have taken part and to share the latest thinking on how to improve the energy sector, especially renewable energy integration and energy efficiency implementation. Clearly, we need concerted, collaborative efforts and greater commitment by everyone to ensure sustained success and accomplishment of our objectives.”
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