PCJ Head Urges Participation in Energy Seminar
Group Managing Director of the Petroleum Corporation of
Jamaica (PCJ), Dr. Ruth Potopsingh, is urging Jamaicans
to take full advantage of opportunities to learn more
about energy at the international energy seminar on July
22, 2009 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
She is urging persons to "participate and take full advantage of the opportunities presented through the seminar, to learn more about energy and what is happening today. Be a part of the Ministry of Energy and Mining's thrust to engage the public in making Jamaica a better country through use of energy."
The seminar is open to persons to become involved or interested in the petroleum industry, at no cost. She further described it as a forum through which Jamaica, and the rest of the region, can start analysing their energy agendas and present their perspectives and views to the world.
Issues related to the current economic crisis, poverty, climate change, global warming and food security will be addressed. She added that these were particularly important for Jamaica, given its 90 per cent dependence on oil and the anticipated decline in world reserves over the next 20-30 years.
The meeting is timely, as Jamaica has now drafted its new energy policy, which will be moving from the White to Green Paper stage in Parliament.
"The seminar also allows us to address the energy environment within a regional context, looking at development, sustainability, technology, social and investment challenges and financing," she added.
Primary objectives are to analyse challenges to new energy agendas in Latin America and the Caribbean, foster dialogue, exchange and consensus to advance a regional energy agenda.
Dr Potopsingh outlined benefits that Jamaica has reaped over the years through its ARPEL membership, such as technical assistance, training and environmental management support, particularly in the area of the development of an oil spill contingency plan.
Another area of benefit has been in the development of 100 guidelines for operations in the oil industry, and a current energy audit in progress at PCJ subsidiaries.
Some 120 participants are expected at the general
assembly and seminar, and the World Bank will be
represented in discussions related to available
financing in light of credit restrictions.