4 months ago
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Petrojam Limited, Jamaica’s sole oil refinery, aims to add a solar facility at its Kingston complex.
The facility is modest in scale, enough to power offices rather than anything industrial, but reflects the Jamaican government’s policy towards energy efficiency and the greening of government through renewable installations in the public sector.
The project calls for the design, supply, installation, and maintenance of a 320 to 500 kilowatt solar system across five buildings: The corporate office, laboratory, projects building, procurement building, and farm store, according to a tender document issued by Petrojam in June. Contractors have until September 2 to submit their bids.
The initiative is expected to be executed within seven months following a contract award.
The winning contractor will deliver a turnkey system aimed at reducing energy costs and reliance on grid power.
“Bidders are required to demonstrate the financial viability and cost-saving benefits of the proposed solar solution,” stated the tender.
The project’s exact cost savings will depend on final design and financing. Petrojam requires that vendors submit the project’s expected return on investment.
Petrojam expects to spend US$5.78 million on electricity and water this fiscal year or 20 per cent more year on year, according to the Jamaica Public Bodies published by the Ministry of Finance.
Beyond corporate savings, this effort reinforces the Government of Jamaica’s wider public sector sustainability agenda. Under its National Energy Policy 2009–2030, the government seeks to make its ministries and agencies models of energy efficiency. It also has a wider national target of generating 50 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewables by 2030.
Petrojam is fully government-owned. In 2019, the Accountant General of Jamaica acquired the 49 per cent stake held by Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA, which acquired the minority stake in 2006.
Petrojam expects to make US$830,000 in profit this fiscal year, ending March 2026, which contrasts with the US$26.7 million net loss a year earlier. Risks to its forecast include geopolitical tensions and possible global economic slowdown, which could pressure margins and demand, the entity stated.
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