The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The ‘new BEC’s’ manager yesterday reassured that its business plan has an environmental focus, with plans to use cleaner fuel sources to generate Bahamian energy.

Ronnie Brannen, president of utility infrastructure at PowerSecure, which yesterday signed a five-year management contract to take operational control of BEC’s new operating subsidiary, Bahamas Power & Light (BPL), promised to deal with inefficiencies that impact two-thirds of light bill costs.

Mr Brannen said: “Our plan has an environmental focus. We want to move from a filthy-type fuel solution to a much cleaner fuel solution.

“We do have an environmental plan, and we do have stewardship that we owe to the Bahamas. We want to do the things that generate power in the most efficient and economical way, and a way that is also sustainable to the environment. We have all eyes wide open on new technologies, new generation, new fuels, a look at the cost of fuel and the best way to procure it.”

While addressing the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation’s (BCCEC) second annual energy security forum back in December, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis said that while $20 million would be set aside from the proposed  $600 million rate reduction bond to tackle the Bahamas Electricity Corporation’s (BEC) legacy pollution if necessary, the Government could exceed that amount.

Mr Brannen said BEC was plagued with infrastructure challenges and high operating costs.

“We have some expensive and inefficient fuel. The fuel cost represents about two-thirds of the cost of electricity to Bahamian consumers,” he added.

“We want to increase the efficiency of the existing assets. We want to add some temporary assets. We want to add some temporary generation while we do those operation and maintenance-type required programmes to enhance the reliability and efficiency of the assets.

“We want to add technology, we want to refinance the legacy debt with a rate reduction bond, and we want to improve operational efficiency and, most importantly, the safety of the BPL employees.”