Caribbean News
JAMAICA: Dr. Wheatley Welcomes Launch of LNG-Fuelled Vehicles by IGL
#Jamaica, April 7, 2018 – Kingston – Science, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, has commended IGL Limited for being the first company in Jamaica to introduce liquefied natural gas (LNG) to fuel its vehicles. The gas distributor on April 5 launched three LNG-powered tractor heads at Devon House in St. Andrew. The fuel is supplied by New Fortress Energy.
The move is expected to reduce harmful emissions and save on fuel costs for the company, which is a leading distributor of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and the primary manufacturer and distributor of industrial and medical gases.
“I want to congratulate IGL… . As Minister… I truly appreciate the move, or any initiative that seeks to reduce our carbon footprint,” Dr. Wheatley said. He noted that such a launch by IGL demonstrates the company’s commitment to energy efficiency and to the Government’s overall energy policy developed in 2009, which speaks to energy diversification.
That policy provides a framework for the sustainable management of energy resources and the development of viable renewable energy resources, with the latter expected to represent no less than 20 per cent of the energy mix by 2030.
The Minister pointed out that LNG is the better choice of fuel, as it is efficient and is extremely suitable for long-distant movements.
“The move to LNG is not purely by chance. We’re seeing that in a number of developed countries they are looking to transfer from the traditional fuel to LNG,” he said, while emphasising the Government’s commitment to energy security.
IGL General Manager, Wayne Kirkpatrick, said the use of LNG to fuel its tractor heads is part of the company’s Clean Air Initiative aimed at reducing its carbon footprint, while protecting people and the environment.
“Jamaica’s National 2030 Development Plan recommends that, as a country, we create prosperity through the sustainable use and management of our natural resources,” he noted.
Data provided by Mr. Kirkpatrick indicates that LNG vehicles reduce 20 to 45 per cent of smog-producing pollutants and about five to nine per cent less of greenhouse gas emissions.
“Thus, LNG gas-fired power is more competitive when long-term costs associated with climate change and the impact of air pollution, both on people and the environment, are included,” he said.
For his part, owner of New Fortess Energy, Wes Edens, said that IGL’s use of LNG mirrors his company’s own foray into the natural gas business in order to reduce energy costs while providing environmental benefits. Mr. Edens argued that the transportation industry consumes more fuel than the electricity sector and IGL’s move “is a real beacon of hope in terms of what can happen here in Jamaica”.
New Fortress is transforming Jamaica’s energy sector, converting Jamaica Public Service’s (JPS) Bogue plant in St. James from diesel fuel to LNG. The company is undertaking the development of the JPS’s 190-megawatt power plant at Old Harbour Bay, St. Catherine, and, in December, broke ground for a 94-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at Jamalco in Clarendon.
Mr. Edens informed that his company’s LNG terminal is expected to be fully operational by year end. He indicated that other partnerships to provide LNG for the transportation sector are to come on stream shortly.
Release: JIS
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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