Jamaicans Benefit from Energy Diversification Course in Korea
In an effort to provide viable options for tackling the worldwide energy crisis, 10 Jamaicans were recently selected to participate in an energy diversification training course in Seoul, South Korea.
The 10 participants comprised one person from the Ministry of Energy, three from the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), one from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), one from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), two from the University of Technology (UTech) and two from the St. Catherine Parish Council.
The training course titled 'Energy Diversification - Conversion to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG),' which was sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Korea, sought to provide opportunities to the participants, to gain firsthand knowledge of Korea's development, especially with regards to the successful transition of their energy source from fossil fuel to natural gas.
"As you are well aware, oil price hike these days is a big burden for every Government in the world and Jamaica is no exception. The Jamaican Government has been trying its best to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel, especially oil. The Jamaican Government feels the necessity to diversify energy sources from almost 100 per cent of oil to natural gas and other alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind energy," explains Charge d'Affaires and Consul General of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Hosung Lee.
"Fortunately, my country has a lot of experience in the diversification of our energy sources for economic development," he adds.
According to Mr. Lee, the training programme was introduced when the Korean Government, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), its official development assistance arm, suggested to the Jamaican Government in October of last year, to start a multi-year and problem-solving type "country training course for Jamaica, which could improve the effects of training by reflecting Jamaica's special needs and requirements."
The KOICA implements the grant aid and technical co-operation programmes of the Korean Government, thereby contributing to: strengthening the co-operative relationship between Korea and developing countries; and promoting the socio-economic advancement of the recipient countries.
The training course was undertaken from July 10 to 25, as a pioneer project and gave the Jamaican delegation an opportunity to participate in workshops and seminars, which would ultimately benefit the island. The multi-year programme will continue for the next two or three years.
The Charge d'Affaires informs that currently, Jamaica is the only regional territory benefitting from the training course for energy diversification. He however highlights that "the KOICA is providing technical assistance to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with regular training programmes."
He says that the programme will be highly beneficial to Jamaica and will assist greatly in implementing measures to reduce the energy bill. "The Jamaican participants in this programme could find out what they are missing in Jamaica through what we (Korea) have accomplished in the energy diversification area. By learning the Korea experience, they could apply the Korean experience to their own policy planning for energy diversification," he points out.
The Charge d'Affaires hopes that ultimately, the programme will be helpful to the Jamaican Government's efforts, to reduce the energy bill and heighten Jamaica's economic and social development.
Posted 2008 August 22