Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
September 05, 2007
The government of St. Kitts and Nevis is exploring alternative energy sources to cope with the volatile price of crude oil on the international market, which cost a record price of US $78.40 per barrel in July 2006 on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX).
Consistent increases over the past couple of years have been dramatic when considering that four years ago a barrel of crude oil cost under US $25.00: a 200 percent rise over today’s average of US $75.00 per barrel.
“The government has taken the cost of energy very, very seriously,” Minister of State for Sustainable Development Hon. Nigel Carty said during a radio interview on Tuesday’s edition of SKNIS Perspectives. “The government has therefore taken a very proactive step in ensuring that we are able to make an impact in the cost of energy here in St. Kitts and Nevis, by ensuring that we get a mix of locally produced renewable energy sources.”
A stakeholder consultation was held last week to explore two research documents on the renewable energy possibilities in St. Kitts and Nevis. Representatives from agencies such as the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the International Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) participated in the forum. Locals from the private and public sector also played a valuable part in the one-day meeting.