Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Donville Inniss is assuring the Barbados Light and Power (BL&P) that its licence to provide electricity to the island will be extended.
Addressing the special members’ meeting of the Barbados Renewable Energy Association at the United Nations House on Friday, under the theme, ‘The State of the Sector: Financing the Renewable Energy Sector in Times of Crisis’, he sought to allay the concerns of those who called into question BL&P’s ability to sign power purchasing contracts with renewable energy contractors for 10 years or more, when its own license carries a 2028 expiration date.
“My position is, and you can quote me on this, is that government will move with haste to extend the licensing period of the Barbados Light and Power as utility and we shall move from the 10-year period to the 20-year period for the sector. It is the only way to go. All we need now is to get the administrative hurdles out of the way,” he stated, while admitting that the matter has been “dragging on too long”.
“You have my assurance as Minister responsible for Commerce and industry that I work with the minister of energy to get these things out of the way, so that the industry and the sector can settle down and move forward,” Inniss continued, gaining the applause of those gathered.
He had earlier pointed out with the island’s renewable sector driven by entrepreneurs, “you really can’t ask persons to invest without getting some guarantees.” (JMB)