Restructure PCJ now

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE PETROLEUM Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) states that its mission is to undertake the development and promotion of Jamaica’s energy resources in support of the National Energy Policy and Vision 2030.

With the bold and aggressive announcement by the prime minister recently that he would like to see 50 per cent of Jamaica’s electricity being generated from renewable energy by 2030, this now takes on an even more determined role for the PCJ.

The main renewable energy project spearheaded by the PCJ over the organisation’s history is the Wigton Windfarm in Manchester. The corporation has also been involved with some energy-efficient projects in the public sector.

But a mission of promoting Jamaica’s energy resources in support of the National Energy Policy and Vision 2030, which requires a 50 per cent renewable energy portfolio in the electricity sector, is even more compelling. Which is why we call on the PM to look at a major restructuring of the PCJ.

It seems that PCJ now has an acting group managing director who appears to be a finance officer. There is a need for a dedicated energy expert to lead this charge, along with a team of highly trained renewable energy technical specialists.

Any strategy as bold as the one being proposed must also be coordinated with all relevant agencies, ministries and departments, and requires focused, coordinated, implementable plans.

We applaud the prime minister’s announcement, but we are quick to add that any drive for 50 per cent renewable energy in the electricity sector must be well coordinated and led by well-trained, dedicated professionals, with the full support of the Government.