The National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) has put measures in place to improve the delivery of gas to its customers and to ensure that the problems incurred by hoteliers on the West Coast, during the tourist season last year, do not reoccur.

This assurance came from Chairman of the NPC, Noel Greenidge, while giving an address at that department???s Annual Awards Ceremony and Christmas Luncheon last weekend at Sugarland Gardens, Farm Road, St. Peter.

He noted that during the past two years the NPC and the Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL) were faced with the challenge of supplying natural gas to meet the demands of current customers.

According to him, the two departments proposed a ???variable approach to resolving these variances through a number of short, medium and long term strategies that will resolve the current problem and ensure the security of supply to Barbadians for years to come???.

Mr. Greenidge explained that some of the options considered were supplying most of the natural gas from current stranded natural gas assets and using propane air to augment local supply.

???These objectives were both met this year. One air mix plant has been installed by a major supplier, whilst the other one has been designated for an early 2016 installation. Natural gas from stranded natural gas wells were installed into the systems from as early as February 2015. However, the primary focus is to secure a medium to long term solution that will ensure the supply of natural gas???at a price less than or equal to the current price,??? he stated.

The chairman also pointed out that part of the solution identified was the importation of natural gas by the BNOCL in quantities designated to augment local supply. ???The plant which is situated at the BNOCL Gas Processing Plant in Woodbourne, St. Philip, is being commissioned and a steady supply has commenced to ensure that all natural gas dependents are sufficed,??? Mr. Greenidge said.

He added that the NPC made a small profit this year, in spite of the self-reduction in gas sales and the challenging economic climate.

kim.ramsay-moore@barbados.gov.bb

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