The price tag of switching to a cleaner fuel for the island’s power, estimated by consultants at considerably more than $100 million, must be matched with the goal of affordability in the island’s new electricity policy, the Minister of Home Affairs told legislators.

Alexa Lightbourne said in the House of Assembly that investment in infrastructure for liquefied natural gas would prove “costly”. She was responding to questions from Dwayne Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Home and Community Affairs, on her update on the draft National Electricity Sector Policy.

The Government released the policy document for consultation last month, rolling back previous targets for the island to produce 85 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035 and instead still producing 93 per cent from fossil fuels in 2030.

Ms Lightbourne said it was costly to commission more studies into viable energy options, which the Government was “trying to mitigate”, while LNG would demand more research and further cost.

Mr Robinson suggested infrastructure already existed for LNG but Ms Lightbourne pointed out that only one component for the fuel was in place.

She explained: “There was a private entity decision. It just so happens to be our incumbent utility that made a decision regarding the investment in technology which was a dual-fuel engine.”

The engines were designed to burn heavy fuel oil or LNG, but were optimised for LNG — causing emissions problems when Belco had to use oil after the regulator rejected LNG as an option.

Read more here: https://www.royalgazette.com/politics/news/article/20260518/home-affairs-minister-warns-of-costly-lng-infrastructure/