Jamaica to diversify power generation

摘要

Jamaica will seek investors in petroleum coke and coal-fired power plants to diversify its energy mix, complementing the development of natural gas-fired plants, energy minister Phillip Paulwell said. The use of coke, coal and gas will reduce energy prices by more than half to between $0.15 and $0.18/kWh in four years, Paulwell said. Tariffs currently average $0.40/kWh. He said he is a believer in petroleum coke and coal, and that plants should be up and running in another four to five years. Paulwell said there are environmental concerns, but added that this is a trade-off for cheaper energy and an increasingly competitive economy.