The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Washington - The Bahamas’ energy generation woes are not unique to this nation, a senior US diplomat said yesterday, adding that extracting efficiencies from energy infrastructure was “no easy work”.

Juan Gonzalez, deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, who made an official two-day visit to the Bahamas last month, affirmed that the US is working with the Government to address this nation’s energy challenges.

“I got to see first-hand some of the energy challenges the county is facing, such as rolling blackouts and high energy costs,” he told a media briefing at the US-Caribbean, Central America Energy Summit.

“These challenges are not unique to the Bahamas. We are working with the Government to find ways to tackle these challenges. There are difficult challenges.

“There are more efficient opportunities and fuel sources the Government can count on. Our focus has been on supporting the Government’s effort to expand those energy resources, promote access to finance and encourage additional private sector investment. I understand that the Government has been working actively on this.”

Mr Gonzalez later said: “I think that every country faces unique challenges. I wouldn’t classify any country as being better or worse. Every country has its own unique challenge.

“The one consistent thing is the dependence on incredibly expensive diesel. I know that the Government and private sector in the Bahamas want to advance efforts that would decrease the reliance of the country on just diesel, and at the end of the day ensure the prosperity of the Bahamas.”

Mr Gonzalez noted the reliance on Bunker C heavy fuel oil at the Clifton Pier Power Station and, referring to BEC’s new manager, PowerSecure, said: “They have brought in an outside company to do a management service contract, to manage the utility and make it more efficient.

“It is not easy work. It’s incredibly expensive and each government is sometimes tackling domestic interests.”