??
Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum at the Hilton Barbados. (FP)
??

The search is on for private partners to work with the Sanitation Service Authority and the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited to generate electricity from the Mangrove Landfill and other areas where waste is now disposed.

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart made this disclosure recently while addressing the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) at Hilton Barbados.

He told the gathering that government was committed to executing a major programme at the landfills to enhance the Green Economy initiative, generate electricity from renewable sources, reduce the size of existing landfills and the need for future ones.

Mr. Stuart stressed: "Not only will these projects reduce our energy imports, but they will also clean up the existing problems at Mangrove and elsewhere, reduce the threat to our water resources, and reduce, if not completely remove, the need for landfill facilities at Mangrove or elsewhere in the island."

The Prime Minister revealed that some private sector entrepreneurs were already collaborating to plan projects, hopefully for early implementation, to convert sewage to energy sources; while others were preparing ventures for the conversion of liquid food processing as well as other agricultural wastes into electricity.

"Already, we have received and are working on the first application from a potential renewable energy producer on a utility scale, to be licensed as an independent power producer.?? These initiatives will proceed within the context of a National Sustainable Energy Policy, which has recently been completed and noted by the Cabinet," Mr. Stuart underlined.

The Prime Minister reminded the audience that the new sustainable energy paradigm, which the country was trying to achieve, would not come to fruition without institutional strengthening and capacity building both within the public and private sectors.

While pointing out that Cabinet had recently approved a plan in this regard for the energy sector he said:?? "We feverently believe that a new industry can be created to generate additional employment opportunities at all levels of the employment spectrum…"

julie.wilson@barbados.gov.bb

Pin It on Pinterest