Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Debra Dowridge, has described the Energy Local Content Policy, which is currently being formulated, as “vital”.
Ms. Dowridge made the comments today as she addressed the opening of the three-day Energy Local Content Workshop and Share Fair, at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre (LESC).
The Deputy Permanent Secretary noted that officials of the Ministry of Energy and Business and the Commonwealth Secretariat were busy formulating the Local Content Policy, in an effort to achieve the sustainable production of oil and gas in Barbados’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
“This entails the development of a local capacity-building programme aimed at preparing the local workforce for employment in the emerging oil and gas offshore sector, and the creation of an enabling environment that will empower home-grown businesses to participate effectively in the supply of goods and services to the offshore oil and gas sector….
“As our country continues on its transition to being a 100 per cent renewable energy island…by 2030, the Local Content Policy will be vital in ensuring that we build the capability and capacity of our people and businesses, to allow them to compete with other bidders from the international arena, when the opportunities arise,” she stated.
With the Offshore Licensing Bid Round to be officially launched on December 1 this year, Ms. Dowridge said it was prudent for the Ministry to create that enabling environment to aid in the governance of the sector, and equip Barbadians with the requisite tools and standards to be world-class competitors.