PM says review of Petrojam underway
Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the commissioned review into the operations of the state-owned oil refinery Petrojam has begun. The 10-member Commission began its work in September. Speaking at the launch of Autogas GB Energy today (Friday, October 5), Prime Minister Holness said the Commission has been progressing even as full operations have resumed at the oil refinery. “I am pleased to report that Petrojam is now up and running fully and supplying the needs of the market. I also want to report that the commission that I have empanelled to review the future of Petrojam has started and is working,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Committee members are:
Christopher Zacca
Ike Johnson
Joseph Matalon
Paul Hoo
Dennis Cohen
Nicholas Scott
Norman Davis
Hon. Peter Moses
Helene Davis Whyte
Carlene O’Connor
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness noted that with the rapid changes and innovations that are happening in the energy sector, Petrojam will undoubtedly be impacted. According to the Prime Minister, the Government is in the process of mapping out the future of Petrojam in a diversified energy market. “There are experts all over the world that we (government) will bring together to advise us as to what is the direction that Jamaica should take. Looking across the world, many countries are confronted with the innovation changes that are affecting old technologies and old ways of doing things,” explained Prime Minister Holness. And, the Prime Minister reiterated that economic growth in Jamaica is heavily reliant on the local private sector. In this regard, he commended the GB Group for its innovation in introducing Autogas in the Jamaican market. “In the new model for growth for Jamaica the reliance cannot be on the government to innovate and lead growth, it has to be the private sector and I want to from this platform using this as an example to reaffirm that point and to make an appeal for our local private sector to recognize that the economic environment has changed, government policy has changed and the government is playing its role as a regulator,” said Prime Minister Holness. The Prime Minister said more businesses must be innovative in meeting the needs of the marketplace. “I want to be attending more ceremonies like these to launch innovations in our economy. I want to be congratulating our business people for taking a risk on Jamaica and not being overly conservative and cautious and pessimistic about the future of Jamaica. The future of Jamaica is great and we want our business people to be optimistic in their outlook to take risks on Jamaica and to make Jamaica great again,” expressed Prime Minister Holness. GB Energy Jamaica, has been experimenting with liquid petroleum gas, or LPG, as a fuel source and began a phased roll-out that is expected to span the Texaco network across the island.