Phillip Paulwell heads back to Jamaica to make EWI decision

Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell is to return to the island today with his most immediate task being to make a decision on the recommendation that Energy World International (EWI) be granted a licence to supply 381 megawatts of generating capacity to the national grid.



Yesterday the Office of Utilities regulations (OUR) announced it submitted the recommendation last Wednesday.



This means that way is now clear for the energy minister to grant a licence to EWI.



Yesterday, Paulwell, who is attending an energy conference in St Lucia, said he would address the matter on his return to the island today.



Last week, a powerful private-sector lobby threw its weight behind the joint public-private oversight Energy Monitoring Committee in cautioning the Government not to rush into issuing a licence to EWI.



The EMC expressed concern over what it said was the lack of adequate information provided by the EWI to support a licence being granted to it for the construction of the plant.



The Office of the Contractor General has also urged the regulator to establish an agreement with EWI for extension of the Bid Validity Period and await the provision of EWI’s Audited Financial Statements before making the recommendation.



FOR MORE STORIES WATCH:

Like our new Facebook page:

Gleaner Jamaica



Follow us on Twitter:

@JamaicaGleaner



Email: onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com