Jamaica’s Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has opened a window of opportunity for firms wishing to submit proposals for a new electricity generating plant that would use LNG as its main fuel source. According to the regulator, it will complete its review of the current proposal by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and other expressions of interest by the end of March.
The OUR said in a news release: “Following the completion of this review, the OUR will formulate an opinion as to the feasibility of the offers and advise the Government whether it is worthwhile to proceed to finalise negotiations with any of these companies, including JPS. This gives all entities which have expressed an interest, including JPS, a window of opportunity for a review of their proposals before the OUR returns to the market, if necessary. The OUR will then await the Government’s decision whether to sole source the project, which seems most feasible by way of readiness, and also achieves the overall objective of reducing electricity prices in the short term. If such a project cannot be identified, then the OUR will go back to invite public tender.”
The decision comes after the OUR informed the JPS and its shareholders that it had terminated the request for proposal process in relation to the 360 MW project. The OUR said it ended the process after JPS missed a third deadline to complete the requirements under the RFP and had requested a 30-day extension.