Vestas secures 36MW order in Jamaica; project will become country"s largest wind farm

VESTAS has received a firm and unconditional 36.3MW order for 11 units of the V112-3.3MW turbine for the BMR Jamaica wind project in St Elizabeth.

The order was placed by the US-based project developer BMR Energy.

The contract comprises the supply, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines as well as civil and electrical works for the construction on the project. An interconnection transmission line will be constructed separately by the local utility.

Turbine delivery is planned for the third quarter of 2015, with commissioning expected in the first quarter of 2016. Upon completion, the BMR Jamaica project will be Jamaica’s largest wind farm.

Jamaica, like much of the Caribbean region, is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for power generation and thus much affected by the fluctuating prices and pollution that result.

The BMR Jamaica wind project has an estimated gross annual production of more than 120 GWh, which corresponds to an annual emission saving of 85,400 tonnes of CO2. Once completed, this wind power plant will provide electricity to approximately 300,000 people in Jamaica.

“Jamaica is located in an area prone to hurricanes. Vestas’ long experience in wind technologies and different weather conditions make it an ideal partner for this project, which requires cutting-edge technology to guarantee the continuous and sustainable operation of the wind power plant at all times”, says Bruce Levy, president of BMR Energy.

“Having installed the first commercial wind generator in Jamaica in 1996 and completed the Wigton wind power plant in 2010, our customers benefit from Vestas’ experience undertaking wind projects in the country. Our wind turbines are well suited to the tropical climate and are able to withstand the extreme wind conditions that can sometimes occur in the Caribbean,” says Marco Graziano, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

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Vestas secures 36MW order in Jamaica; project will become country"s largest wind farm

Wheatley wants NRCA board sacked for approving of Negril breakwater project

Tuesday, December 16, 2014 | 6:54 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, has called for the sacking of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority’s (NRCA) board of directors following an announcement that they granted approval for two “highly controversial” off-shore breakwaters to be built in the Long Bay area of Negril, Westmoreland.

The NRCA board is chaired by former People’s National Party’s (PNP) MP, John Junor and comprises directors including Dr Carol Archer and PNP Councillor Kari Douglas.

According to Wheatley, the NRCA Board’s decision runs counter to its mandate, which is to provide for the management, conservation and protection of the natural resources of Jamaica. He noted that the NRCA did not sufficiently take into account the views of members of the Negril community and experts here and overseas who have “consistently, loudly and factually” rubbished the breakwater proposal.

He said beyond that, Negril stakeholders have put forward serious proposals that are less expensive, more effective and environmentally friendly.

Wheatley, in a release Tuesday afternoon, restated the Opposition’s position that beach nourishment is the preferred approach to rehabilitating the Negril shoreline. The Opposition spokesman said he has no choice but to “seriously question the government’s motives in its mad rush to pursue what is a dubious, risky and very expensive plan.”

He said that among his main concerns are the absence of a comprehensive Economic Impact study into the effects of pursuing the highly technical and disruptive project that the Government says will run for several months.

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Wheatley wants NRCA board sacked for approving of Negril breakwater project

Trinidad highway project continues despite hunger strike threats from Kublalsingh

Environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh (Credit: news.gov.tt)

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday September 15, 2014, CMC - The Chief State Solicitor has written to environmentalist Dr Wayne Kublalsingh, saying the state cannot accede to his request of halting the construction of the Debe to Mon Desir section of the Golconda to Point Fortin Highway.

In a letter dated September 3, Kublalsingh, called on the Prime Minister, to abide by the recommendations of the Armstrong report, and to stop the construction of the highway.

Kublalsingh has threatened to go on a hunger strike within 14 days if the Prime Minister did not accede to his requests.

The Prime Minister passed the letter to Attorney General Anand Ramlogan who said “….such action would lead to consequences and risks, which are unknown. However, you do so at your own peril. While you have the right to protest in a lawful manner, the State has the duty and responsibility to protect life and will not be deterred in adhering to that responsibility as it had done in the past.”

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“While you have the right to protest in a lawful manner, the State has the duty and responsibility to protect life and will not be deterred in adhering to that responsibility as it had done in the past,” the letter sstated.

Meanwhile, the Chief State Solicitor has pointed out that the issues raised by Kublalsingh and his Highway Re-Route Movement (HRM), formed part of the constitutional motion filed against the State.

“You and the members of your movement have invoked the original jurisdiction of the High Court under section 14 of the Constitution seeking constitutional protection of the court, alleging breaches of your constitutional rights.

“The Attorney General is representing the interest of the State in this matter. Both parties are being represented by eminent Senior members of the Inner Bar. Substantial resources have been devoted by both parties.

The Chief State Solicitor reminded Kublalsingh that the High Court had ruled that the Highway Re-Route Movement was not entitled to injunctive relief in this matter and as a result he intends to seek further relief from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

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Trinidad highway project continues despite hunger strike threats from Kublalsingh

Negative reactions to pitch by EWI to re-apply for 381 megawatt plant project

There have been negative reactions to Energy World International, EWI’s, renewed pitch to the Government to construct the 381 megawatt power plant.

RJR News reported yesterday that the Hong Kong based company has written to the Simpson-Miller administration, signalling its intention to continue the project. This comes days before its licence expires.

But the Jamaica Manufacturer’s Association, JMA, is opposed to EWI’s continued involvement in the energy project. President of  the Association, Brian Pengelley, reacted to the development last night. He said he saw it coming but we have moved on. EWI officials have indicated that the company is prepared to submit fresh proposals, if  necessary. 
And the Consumer Advisory Committee on Utilities, is also against EWI being given a second opportunity to lead the 381 megawatt project. It says in light of  the breaches of  its licence and the subsequent revocation it would be unwise for the Government to continue with the Hong Kong-based entity
In the meantime, Cabinet will in September receive the first report on the work being done by the Electricity Sector Enterprise Team (ESET).  Chairman, Dr. Vin Lawrence, updated members of  the National Partnership Council at its first anniversary retreat yesterday at Jamaica House.

Dr. Lawrence told the Council that the ESET has held seven meetings and was engaged in preparing a plan outlining recommendations beyond satisfying the current electricity needs of  the country. The ESET Chairman also signalled the team is moving on from EWI. Dr. Lawrence said with the procurement process set to end on Monday with the revocation of  the EWI licence, the ESET will assume full authority in executing its mandate.

In coming weeks, ESET will engage in consultations with agencies such as the OUR, JPS, the Energy Ministry and independent power producers.

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Negative reactions to pitch by EWI to re-apply for 381 megawatt plant project

Energy committee urges more due diligence in 360MW project

The Government’s proposed 360 megawatt power plant was again thrust into the public spotlight with a call by the Energy Monitoring Committee (EMC) yesterday for more due diligence on the project.

According to the EMC, a number of “important items” need to be thoroughly checked before the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) can make a positive recommendation to the Government for a licence to be granted to Energy World International (EWI), the preferred bidder on the project.

The EMC said that what was needed was:

* A thorough absorption of any substantive information in the due diligence report followed by a forum to solicit the preferred bidder’s responses to these potential issues;

* Gaining a better understanding of the progress of current projects being pursued by EWI-related entities to ensure there are no adverse ramifications for Jamaica’s bid; and

* Focusing on the financial capability of the preferred bidder, including evidence of commitment with the usual qualifiers from its bankers/equity sources, as would be expected in a project that is greater than US$700 million in size.

The EMC made the call after noting that since its last meeting with the OUR on the issue, a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) was ratified and a due diligence report was submitted by the Revenue Protection Division of the Ministry of Finance & Planning to the OUR.

But the EMC said it had not yet received specific information on the PPA, as it is awaiting consent from the counterparties to that agreement. However, it expects to have a summary of the key terms by early this week.

“This information will allow us to monitor commitments made by the preferred bidder on an ongoing basis with respect to their role as the power provider in the PPA,” the committee said.

“As it relates to the due diligence report, while we understand the confidentiality of such a document, given that reports of this nature typically cite sources who give testimony and thereby need to be protected, we have requested, through the OUR, that this report be released in an abridged version to the EMC and other important stakeholders,” the committee added, noting that the next step in the bid process is the granting of a licence to the preferred bidder.

The 360 megawatt project aims to slash, by one-third, Jamaica’s energy costs which, at US40 cents a kilowatt-hour, has been identified as a significant contributor to the country’s inability to increase production and attract more investments.

But the project has been mired in controversy after the OUR, in October 2013, cancelled the preferred bidder status it had granted to United States-based consortium Azurest-Cambridge because the firm failed to meet its deadline to produce a bid security of one per cent of its proposed US$690-million investment.

The OUR then promoted Hong Kong-based firm EWI to the position, further fuelling controversy over EWI’s entry to the process more than a month after the bids had closed.

With controversy continuing to dog the project, the Government, last December, partnered with private sector lobby groups to form the EMC in an effort to ensure that the bid process was followed in the manner prescribed by the OUR.

The EMC is also mandated to ensure that at the culmination of the process, the price of electricity provided by the licensee to Jamaica Public Service Company does not exceed US$0.1288 per kWh.

The EMC is co-chaired by Carlton Davis and Peter Melhado and comprises Fitzroy Vidal and Michelle Forbes from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining; William Saunders, energy consultant to the Government; Simon Roberts of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association; Noel daCosta from the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce; Jeanette Calder representing the Jamaica Civil Society Coalition; and Lloyd Goodleigh of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions.

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Energy committee urges more due diligence in 360MW project

63 benefit from Hope Gospel project

SIXTY-THREE students last week received scholarships totalling $440,000 from the Hope Gospel Assembly in recognition of their achievements at the primary and high school examination levels.

The students who scored an average of 70 per cent and above in their class, GSAT and CXC examinations, came from the communities of Gordon Town, Kintyre, Elletson Flats, Sandy Park, Stand Pipe, Trench Town, Rockfort, and Mountain View in the Corporate Area.The students received from $5,000 to $20,000 towards back- to-school purchases and tuition fees.“We gave out 63 scholarships this year, which is less than last year,” senior pastor at the Hope Gospel Assembly Rev Peter Garth said, following the informal awards ceremony held on the church grounds, Old Hope Road two Saturdays ago.“Last year we gave out over 80 [scholarships] at a value of slightly over $600,000. This year it was cut back to $440,000.”The cutback, he explained, was not intentional but as a result of not having as many sponsors as in prior years due to economic constraints.However, there were companies which, and individuals who rose to the challenge at the last minute, following a Jamaica Observer article published on Tuesday, August 13, which highlighted the plight of the church, prior to the distribution of the scholarships on Saturday of that week.Among the individuals making contributions was one man from Dubai, located in the United Arab Emirates, who took up the challenge after reading the article. He gave $130,000.“The person in Dubai said he is willing to help further, but could not do more because of the short notice,” Rev Garth said. “Many of our sponsors rose to the challenge to assist us with scholarships. Other sponsors were from Cayman, Boston, Alabama, and New York.”Among the list of sponsors were Rev Garth’s daughter, Charlene Garth Kampert and her husband Mark, who reside in Boston.“The biggest sponsor of the back-to-school scholarship for this year is Charlene Garth,” he told the gathering, after explaining the near miss event. “She contributed more than the companies. Her heart is still right here in Jamaica.”The Kamperts contributed $150,000.Companies which awarded scholarships were Jamaica Broilers and Jamaica National Building Society.Individual scholarships were donated by Winston Robinson, Nadine Tufton, Dr Neil and Carolyn Gardener, Bruce Scott, Paula and Carlton Rhoden, Jonathon Garth, Dr Billy Foster, Charlene and Mark Kampert, Kerry-Ann Walker, Keisha Green, Pat Reid, Glen Burke, Davian Cotchwell, Pauline Powell and Emily Rose.Among the recipients were Andrea Allen from Campion College who received the Charlene and Mark Tampert scholarship, valued at $20,000 after earning nine ones in her CXC subjects, and her schoolmate Shaina Ferguson who received the Billy Foster scholarship also valued at $20,000, after scoring seven ones and one two in her CXC exams.Ferguson, who is from Kintyre, attends Campion College. She scored grade one in Biology, English Language, English Literature, Technical Drawing, Accounts, Art and Mathematics, and a grade two in Spanish.“I wish we could do more for these children,” Rev Garth said after handing over the cheque to Ferguson. “We at Hope Gospel believe in those who are doing well.”Also receiving a scholarship was a child whose mother called a radio station the day before the ceremony, asking for help for her child to go back to school.“My wife heard it and she called me at the 11th hour to say you have to do something for this lady. And I called the radio station and I said yes, we are going to do something for her son.He too received the Charlene and Mark Kampert scholarship valued at $20,000.“He is a special case and we plan to follow-up with help,” he told the Jamaica Observer afterwards. “In fact we plan on giving him another scholarship for another $20,000,” he said.Despite the challenges, Rev Garth said that he refused to cancel the event.“I refused to cancel the event, and my philosophy is no matter how small it is we will see how much we can give out,” he said.The scholarships were given away during a back-to-school fair in which children were presented with GSAT books, school supplies, exercise and reading books, khaki uniforms and school bags.“We had close to 1,000 packages, bags and so forth,” Rev Garth said. But we will have another round in September because we have bags that are on the way into Jamaica, so a few more hundred persons will benefit with bags, books and the regular school items in those bags. Edu-pack in Altanta contributed 1,600 bags but they did not make it in time,” he said.“And those who have got scholarships for the second or third time they have done well and that says that we are doing something that is right,” he said.“We want to thank God that individuals came through this year (as sponsors). We start at the primary school, we looked at grades five and six and into high schools, but a lot of sponsors want to focus on those leaving the primary going into high schools — like first formers,” he explained.“And then we take on a few others, but we don’t go beyond high school. We may throughout the year help university students and UTECH students to buy books here and there but this is the actual fair. But throughout the year we assist children to go back to school. We have been having the back-to-school fair for five years. But for the past 20 something years we have been helping people with back to school. But it got so large that we decided to turn it into a fair.Sponsors of the day’s event were Digicel, Lime, Jamaica Broilers, National Commercial Bank, Kingston Bookshop, Ligunea Drug and Garden Centre and Tent City.A number of parents and children turned out at the Hope Gospel Assembly back-to-school fair held two Saturdays ago, during which 63 students received scholarships totalling $440,000. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON)

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63 benefit from Hope Gospel project

$10-m silver tilapia production project launched

THE fisheries sector is set to benefit significantly from a multimillion-dollar aquaculture project, which targets the production of the imported Silver Tilapia species of freshwater fish, for sale to the local and overseas markets.

The initiative, for which a four-month $10-million pilot project was recently concluded, is spearheaded by newly established entity Sunshine Aquaculture Limited, in partnership with Aqua Wilson Farm, a 100-acre fresh water fish sanctuary in Hill Run, St Catherine.Sunshine Aquaculture is seeking to introduce the new Silver Tilapia as well as improved nutrition and management processes within the local sector, which should serve to complement the indigenous Red Tilapia, regarded as a local culinary favourite, and boost the local industry’s output, enabling it to generate earnings of up to US$200 million per annum.Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Roger Clarke and other officials of the Ministry were taken on a tour of the Aqua Wilson Farm last Friday to view the operations.Sunshine Aquaculture Director Mark Wildish said the pilot project demonstrates the possibility of double growth rates for the Silver Tilapia, based on the results of the pilot project, conducted at their Kew Park Farm in Westmoreland, and Aqua Wilson Farm.He informed that fingerlings at Kew Park, grew from 26 grams to 400 grams in 66 days, while those at Aqua Wilson recorded growth of up to 322 grams over the same duration. This contrasts sharply to the 107 days it takes the Red Tilapia fingerling to grow to 26 grams, and 180 days to get to 322 grams.“The main advantage of the Silver Tilapia is that through improved efficiencies, we can significantly reduce the cost of production, and this will allow a lower price for the consumer. We expect that the Jamaica Tilapia will continue to sell. But, our aim is to make sure we can compete with much of the frozen fish which currently comes in from abroad, like the Mangrove Snapper and Grunt,” Wildish said.Noting that local production declined to 800 tonnes in 2012, Mr. Wildish is optimistic that introduction of the Silver Tilapia will boost output to well over 4,000 tonnes within three years, with the potential to generate earnings of between US$150 million and US$200 million.“Jamaica has great competitive advantage in fish…we have great land, great water, and we have already got a lot of the existing farms. In a study done as to the aquaculture potential of Jamaica, it is not impossible to imagine Jamaica producing 50,000 tonnes of Tilapia a year,” he added.Wildish disclosed plans by Sunshine Aquaculture to commence the development of a fish nursery by year end, with some US$10 million being earmarked for investment in the first phase.“It will be based in Westmorland. But most of the farming is likely to be done, initially, on the Clarendon and St Catherine plains, where most of the existing farms are, because we intend to contract farms with existing farmers,” he informed.He said that Clarke “has been very supportive” of the venture.Meanwhile, Minister Clarke welcomed the initiative, and emphasised that the project demonstrates that local Tilapia production can be significantly advanced with proper genetics and proper feeding systems, thus ensuring that “we can compete in a significant way” in the global market.“As far as marine fish [is concerned], we are being challenged. The fact (is) that…with all that we have been doing with our sanctuaries, the stock is still depleting, and if you look worldwide, aquaculture is growing in a significant way. We must catch up with the world, because that is where our future lies,” the minister said.He gave an undertaking to work with Sunshine Aquaculture and other industry stakeholders in safeguarding and enhancing the sector’s output.— JIS

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$10-m silver tilapia production project launched

Wofford project provides micro-loans for Haitians

STUDENTS at Wofford College in South Carolina are getting lessons in high finance while helping poor women and peanut farmers in Haiti.

The Wofford students manage an investment fund as a financial learning exercise, according to their finance professor Philip Swicegood.Last year, the fund had done well enough over a five-year period that the students decided to turn over some of the profits to support a small loan project in Haiti, Swicegood said in a recent interview.“The students learn money management skills, and they focus on long-term wealth creation,” Swicegood said. “But this also allows them to develop a vision of philanthropy at the same time.”The fund was created through a US$100,000 contribution to the college by Wofford alumnus and trustee Mike James, who directed the money be used for such a student-led project, Swicegood said.A physician helping coordinate the effort on the ground in northern Haiti said profits from the James Fund are supporting loans of several hundred dollars to about 30 women and 50 peanut farmers.Dr Eugene Maklin said the loans run about US$300 for each woman and about US$100 for each farmer. They are repaid in increments over time and so far, the loans have been repaid on time, the physician said.The women use the loans to buy produce to resell or make consumer items. The peanut farmers sell their crops to an organisation that helps feed undernourished children.Maklin said the great majority of the Haitian women use their profits to pay for schooling for their children. Many farmers choose to invest in their farms or tools. He said the Wofford programme is centred in a village about 45 minutes outside of the northern port of Cap Haitien.Only 20 students are chosen to participate in the extra-curricular programme every year, Swicegood said.The fund has grown to about US$180,000, and the students have about US$13,000 to use on the Haiti project, the professor said.“We wanted to do something really unique with it,” said Wofford 2012 graduate Martin Huff, who is working in Spartanburg for a financial firm and handles auto loans. Huff, 23, travelled to Haiti the day he graduated and helped interview the initial loan recipients.“Some of the women used their money to buy supplies and sew tapestries to put over their doorways. Others were buying produce, meat, candy or raw goods to sell in the marketplace,” said Huff, who added that he’d like to return again for such work.Maklin, who coordinates the group known as NH4H, or New Hope for Haiti, helps administer and manage the Wofford micro-loans along with those of other groups. The Wofford group chose to work with a loan programme established in 2006 by the Providence United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC, Swicegood and Maklin said.Swicegood and Maklin said the project makes a commitment to work with its loan recipients for a three-year period and may renew the existing loans.They added that the two per cent interest earned from the micro-loans is divided up, with one-third returned to each person at the end of the loan cycle. One-third goes for the administration of the loans, and one-third is placed into a fund for the local community.Swicegood said the women decided to use part of the funds that were set aside for the community to purchase a fresh water system for their village.“We can’t thank Wofford enough for doing all this for our fellow Haitians,” Maklin said. “The cost of living is becoming more difficult nowadays. We receive thousands, thousands of calls from many groups of women and men asking for that kind of help every day. But we’re very sorry we can’t provide loans to everyone.”Gabriela Salazar, who is the agriculture manager for the non-profit Meds and Food for Kids that works with the peanut farmers, said the Wofford programme has worked with a total of 50 peanut farmers from five communities.“Wofford’s micro-loans have been enough for the average peanut farmer to purchase seeds and prepare their land for planting, costs which are often significant barriers to entry for peanut farmers,” Salazar said. Her group buys the peanuts the farmers produce.The programme “is a step toward helping farmers to sustainably grow more peanuts while also increasing their incomes,” Salazar said.Women shop for food in the market in Cornillon, Haiti. (PHOTO: AP)

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Wofford project provides micro-loans for Haitians