PwC Deals expert Wilfred Baghaloo says Jamaica’s future competitive advantage in electricity generation will be in renewables

Montego Bay, St James - PwC partner and deals expert Wilfred Baghaloo says that Jamaica can build future competitive advantage in electricity generation by maintaining its focus on building out a robust renewable energy infrastructure.  On Wednesday, Wilfred noted that in addition to the existing large sustainable energy projects, pursuing other opportunities for public-private partnerships will be the linchpin in ensuring that the energy supply mix is improved to include at least 20 percent renewables by 2030.

Wilfred Baghaloo was chairing an energy sector session on Wednesday (June 13), titled: Towards a sustainable energy hub – access to energy and the build-out of our renewable energy infrastructure, during the Jamaica Investment Forum hosted by JAMPRO from June 12-14 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Wilfred Baghaloo noted, “A number of energy projects are in the pipeline with a mix of both renewables and liquefied natural gas and these are very promising. Pursuing renewables makes good economic sense, we simply have to stay the course and expand our efforts by increasing public-private partnerships, which have huge possibilities.  We also need to increase our use of liquefied natural gas in the energy mix.”

Wilfred added that while the government is focusing its policy on energy generation, he is recommending that the government broadens its policy to include the expansion of transportation.

The business potential for six priority sectors was the focus for Jamaica Investment Forum 2018. Agribusiness, business process outsourcing, energy, logistics, manufacturing, and tourism sector leaders shared key insights on the growth and development opportunities in each area.

High-level speakers included the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, other government ministers, Diane Edwards, President, JAMPRO, Dr Wayne Henry, Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Dr. Constant Lonkeng Ngouana, resident representative, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a number of other private and public sector leaders.