ENERGY MINISTER RESPONDS TO LEAKED LNG REPORT
 

Minister of Energy and Mining, James Robertson, is standing by what he describes as the tremendous work done by the Ministry and The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica in bringing the government’s flagship Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project to its current state.

Minister Robertson applauds and supports the decision of the Prime Minister to place the management and execution of the project in the hands of an inter-ministerial committee at this time. It has always been the position of the Ministry that this was a necessary move that should come at this critical juncture in the development process.

According to the Report of the Bauxite and Alumina Task Force, Chaired by the Hon. Dr Carlton Davis:

“Because of the issues involved, the directions which may have to be given from time to time and the resources which may be necessary, it is recommended that a Cabinet Committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Minister of Finance and the Public Service, the Minister of Energy and Mining and the Minister of Industry and Commerce, be created to oversee this particular aspect of the Energy Policy.” – February 22, 2010

The Energy and Mining ministry has 11 major agencies under its watch, all of which engage in projects that are subject to independent assessments whereby critical questions are raised and must be answered. Further yet audits, operational reports and reviews from respected local and international consultants on a sustained basis, inclusive of taking on board the opinions of our independent development partners continue to be undertaken. This report is no different.

In the Energy and Mining sectors, there is no room for mistakes. The Minister pointed out that this assessment report and all studies including the OUR’s Generation Expansion Plan and the Energy and Bauxite Taskforce reports to date, indicate that the policies and directives of the Ministry in terms of choice of technology, fuel diversification and modernization are correct and will save Jamaica billions of dollars.

As a matter of fact, the impact of the policies and initiatives being pursued by this Ministry will result in Foreign Direct Investment of over US$3.5 billion, and see Jamaica becoming internationally competitive and productive in all of its sectors, thus moving closer to the attainment of our Vision2030 goals.

The Energy Minister is expressing concern, however, over not being contacted for a response to the story carried by Nationwide News Network on January 11, 2010, regarding the Report of the LNG Assessment. According to Minister Robertson, “That assessment report raised several valid questions of the project, for which comprehensive answers were provided. This is a fact that Nationwide was made aware of in December of 2010. However, in the reportage of that media entity, there was no reference made to the answers given to the questions raised in the report.

“Even when questions are raised in leaked documents carried by media houses, there is still a responsibility to acknowledge the comprehensive responses to those same questions; if even in the name of balanced reporting.” The Energy Minister said.

Meanwhile, the Minister insists that assessment reports will continue to be a feature of the rigours of work in the public service and must not be made the subject of news stories, when taken out of their proper context or without the benefit of balanced treatment.

Minister Robertson says he has again made available to Nationwide News Network and Cliff Hughes the comprehensive report of the technical advisors to the Project answering in full all questions.

Technical Officers in the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica are available for technical queries.

• Dr. Earl Green – Group Chief Technical Director, PCJ

• Stephen Wedderburn – Project Coordinator, PCJ
  Telephone: 929-5386

For more information contact:

• James Robertson
  Minister of Energy and Mining
  Tel: 929-8990

• Delano Seiveright
  Special Advisor
  Tel: 564-6597

Report of the Bauxite and Alumina Task Force - [PDF Document]