Energy committee to offer a sneak-peek of policy

| 21/10/2011

(CNS): Having spent more than one year preparing it a government committee will be offering a preview of the proposed national energy policy next week during a Chamber of Commerce meeting but it is not yet clear if it will include the development of an oil refinery. The National Energy Policy Committee (NEPC) will be giving business leaders a sneak peak of its work to date on the policy which officials have said will guide the country’s energy needs over the next two decades. The chamber said the committee will discuss their mandate and findings with members at its next Be Informed meeting. The draft policy is due to be submitted to Cabinet in the first quarter of 2012.

Chair of the NEPC government backbench MLA Cline Glidden said Cayman faced the challenge of finding an energy solution that is both affordable and secure.

“Our vision is to encourage a diversified sector that is supported by informed public behaviour,” Glidden stated, in a government release. “We believe this will help to strengthen our economy in a number of ways: by reducing the cost of fuel; generating a demand for new products and services, and creating more jobs than are lost in the transition from fossil fuels. We would, of course, also be reducing the Cayman Islands carbon footprint,” but made no reference to the government talks over the development of an oil refinery.

In June the premier announced that he had signed a “ministerial MOU” with two firms- -Vintech Ltd and Navitas to develop an oil refinery which he said, at the time had started a full Environmental Impact Assessment to analyze all the issues related to the development of such a facility. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly McKeeva Bush said Cayman had to “develop a strategy to have a constant supply of affordable fuel” to the country could become self sufficient.

At the time the premier did not say how long the ministerial agreement was for and there have been no comments or updates from governmentsince.

Members of the NEPC committees and subcommittees will reveal the story so far on energy policy at 3pm Wednesday, 26 October at the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors’ Centre conference facility in Governor’s Square.

For more details and to register for the event visit www.caymanchamber.ky

 

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  1. Anonymous says:

    One more useless committee living off the poor taxpayers.

  2. Burtley says:

    Energy Committee??? I never know WE had one of those. Waste of damm time.

    Then what we need to do is have a committee form that represent solar. We can call it the "Solar Committee", and the thg can be called, Catching the Sun and saving the bun. Now am with that.

    Burt-Burt  

  3. B.B.L. Brown says:

    What we DON'T need is a stinking oil refinery.  I don't have any idea of how many millions of dollars will be spent building it, but it would be a long time getting it paid for.  And don't think it would magically produce lower prices for your gasoline or electricity…… they are priced by the distributors with little if any restraints by the powers that be.  We have to pay to have our gasoline and diesel fuel to be shipped in, but we'd STILL have to pay to have the crude shipped in!  Then we'd have a lot of stinky, unhealthy by-products to dispose of.  Refineries are undesirable neighbors, believe me!

  4. Anonymous says:

    "a sneak-peek of policy" – why does this have to be sneeky?

  5. Profound Reality! says:

    Cleaner affordable energy!Whats with the hard on for fossil fuel when alternatives are available?!

    Please dont lose more of the public's money on foolish ideas.

     

    • anonymous says:

      Cleaner, affordable energy COSTS more right now. For two reasons, the capital investment as well as the inefficiency of the systems.

      As long as we have these two factors oil will continue to be the 'logical' source. If we ask Caymanians do they want cleaner, greener energy AND higher bills or stay as you are the answer is clear.

      And there is a bit of an egg and chicken issue here…until most convert to alternatives, the cost will remain high.

      Many years ago the Barbados government decided that solar water heating was logical and they did everything they could, took away import duties, promoted it, etc.  Now I understand 45% or more of Barbadians use free solar water heating.

      This is the type of bold and visionary leadership we need in Cayman. It is the type you find in many of the independent candidates of the last elections. Unfortunately they cannot get elected without your help.

       

  6. Anonymous says:

    Instead of building an oil refinery why don't they use the money to put solar panels on every roof on the island?

  7. Dred says:

    DAMN….

    We are being setup….

    I believe the attack of CUC is a precursor for a return of the refinery idea…

    Let me explain….

    What will be revealed as the CUC report shows quite clearly is that the problem is in fact the cost of fuel itself being so high not REALLY the cost of duty on fuel although it does help raise the cost some.

    So again the refinery will pop up to help lower the cost of fuel.

    I have to say he does think a bit ahead….Just watch what I am saying…..