PRIME
Minister P J Patterson says the government is close to finalising
its national energy policy, which he says will outline strategies
and options for the energy sector through the formulation of
a comprehensive plan of action to guide the sector until 2015.
Prime
Minister Patterson made the announcement on Thursday during
a courtesy call at Jamaica House by Ruth Potopsingh, the newly
appointed group managing director for the Petroleum Corporation
of Jamaica (PCJ).
According
to Jamaica House, Patterson said the policy which he first announced
in his 2004 budget presentation, is in the final draft stage
and will be tabled in Parliament upon completion.
Responsibility
for the development of the energy policy rests within the Office
of the Prime Minister, under the direction of the government's
special envoy for energy.
Patterson
in his budget presentation in 2004 announced plans for the creation
of a national energy policy and strategy against the background
of volatility in oil prices and the need for conservation as
well as alternative and renewable sources of energy. He said
then that the country's oil import bill had increased significantly
during the past five years, moving from US$313 million in 1998
to US$813 million in 2003.
The
country's oil import bill is now approximately US$1 billion.
Patterson
also said Thursday that the government of Trinidad and Tobago
remained committed to supplying Jamaica with liquefied natural
gas and that the details of agreement were still being finalised.
The
prime minister congratulated Potopsingh on her recent appointment
and praised the PCJ for helping to carefully steer the energy
sector through the difficulties faced by rising oil prices.
