Power trinity - Companies collaborate to offer best bid in the megawatt project
Published:Friday | August 9, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
AS THE Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) opened bids yesterday for the much-anticipated 360-megawatt electricity-generating project, it was revealed that three major companies have joined forces seeking to become the preferred bidder.
And in a late development yesterday, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) said it will be partnering with three local entities in response to the OUR's request for proposals for the procurement of new baseload generating capacity.
"While JPS is not submitting an independent bid, we are pleased to partner with other bidders to ensure that new power generation is added to the grid. We also plan to work with our partners to continue to bring much-needed fuel diversity to Jamaica," said Kelly Tomblin, JPS president and CEO.
In its news release yesterday, the JPS did not specify the companies that it would be partnering with, but only three entities have established a limited-liability company, called Energised Jamaica Limited, to bid for the project. The companies are Amourview Holdings Limited, Tank-Weld, and Mussons Jamaica Limited.
Energised Jamaica Limited is proposing to establish a 360-megawatt dual-fuel selective-cycle reciprocating power-generation plant, using number-six heavy fuel oil and natural gas. If successful, the company will be spending US$586.7 million to set up the plant.
Nigel Davy of Energised Jamaica Limited told The Gleaner yesterday that his company was confident of being selected the preferred bidder.
"I think ours is the best proposal there and I think we have the winning bid," he added.
Other companies vying to be the successful bidder are Energy World International out of Hong Kong, Azurest Cambridge Power, and Optimal Energy Limited.
Energy World International Limited has proposed to spend more than Energised Jamaica Limited to build its plant. The company says it will invest US$737 million to construct a combined-cycle power plant with 478 megawatts that will operate on natural-gas power generation. Azurest will be spending US$690 million.
Meanwhile, President of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Associa-tion (JMA) Brian Pengelley yesterday cautioned against any variance, in future, from the stipulated timetable set by the OUR to select a preferred bidder for the 360-megawatt project.
"We really expect the teams - the ministry and the OUR - to be moving very quickly to identify the supplier of choice and get this thing done," the JMA head told The Gleaner, following yesterday's opening of bids by the OUR at its offices in New Kingston.
Pengelley said he was thankful that the OUR's new deadline was met, but stressed that "we will not accept any further variance of the timetable that is set".
The OUR recently came under fire from the JMA and two other leading private-sector associations for delays in the bidding process for the 360-megawatt project.
Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell also warned that his ministry would not countenance any further delays from the OUR.