Basseterre, St. Kitts, April 01, 2016 (SKNIS): Energy stakeholders from across the region gathered at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort on Thursday, March 31, to dialogue on an important issue with regards to renewable energy and to officially launch the Energy Balance Report (2010-2012) of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Honourable Ian Patches Liburd, Minister of Public Infrastructure, which includes energy, welcomed the stakeholders and briefly explained energy balance with respect to the Federation.
“Energy balances are instruments that measure the annual energy sources and consumption in different economic sectors,” said Minister Liburd. “One would therefore glean from the report, that studies were undertaken within the major sectors of our economy such as transport for example, which is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in St. Kitts and Nevis and was also found to be a major consumer of fossil fuel with demands constantly increasing.”
The energy minister gave statistics with respect to the supply of gasoline in the twin-island Federation and noted that it increased to 4.86 million gallons in 2005, compared to the 3.27 million gallons in 2000.
“You will I am sure agree that if we were to bring this sector under control then the future for St. Kitts and Nevis would be brighter and a more resilient one,” he said, while noting that a great deal of work was done with regards to the project ranging from the data gathering stage to the culmination of the comprehensive energy balances report.”
Lennis Rivera, Director of Integration – Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), stated that energy planning is significant for any country.
“Integrated energy planning of a country is a matter of vital importance for sustainable development,” said the director. “In fact, energy balances are tools to facilitate the overall energy planning that should be integrated to other instruments of the economic systems framework.
Mrs. Rivera noted that she is confident that the information contained in the St. Kitts and Nevis Energy Balances and Greenhouse Emissions Report will be helpful in raising awareness about supply and demand in the energy environmental sector. She added that it will also support the country on its collaboration of energy policies with a strong technical, social, economic and environmental basis.
Minister Liburd echoed the Government’s pleasure with the Community of Latin American and the Caribbean States (CELAC) in collaboration with OLADE for making the project a reality.
As stated in the Lima Action Plan adopted during the First Meeting of Energy Ministers of CELAC in Lima, Peru, on November 16, 2012, OLADE was requested to participate as Technical Advisor. Subsequently, during the V Meeting of Energy Ministers of OLADE, the OLADE’s Cooperation with CELAC was approved. The agreement included a study project for developing Energy Balances of six Caribbean Member Countries of CELAC that are Non-Member Countries of OLADE. The countries include Antigua and Barbuda; the Bahamas; Dominica; St. Lucia; St. Vincent and the Grenadines; and St. Kitts and Nevis. The Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) funded the project.
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