ENERGY Minister Clive Mullings has said that Jamaica is shortly to benefit from 13 major energy-saving projects, including a solar factory, for which the paperwork is now being finalised.

His revelation comes at a time when Jamaica is consuming an estimated 27 million barrels of oil annually. In 2005 alone, the island had to shell out US$1 billion for its energy bill.

"I do not want to go into full details about the plans, but what I can say is that I have already received approval for funding for some of the projects, one of which will include the building of a factory for solar (power) in Jamaica," Mullings said.

He was speaking with the Sunday Observer following the launch of a solar lighting project at the Rotary Red Hills Road Multipurpose Park in Kingston last Wednesday.

The installation of solar lights at the centre was phase four of a five-year project of the Rotary Club of Kingston and several other organisations to transform the park - once known as a dust bowl - into a community centre and play area.

"Not only am I pleased with the development in the area but I am also hoping the initiative will help to pave the way for other creative projects in other communities," the minister said, commending the work of the Rotary club.

Club president Christopher Issa said that for years the patch of land located off Red Hills Road was a cause of concern as heavy dust from the area had resulted in a number of people experiencing respiratory problems. However, in recent years a number of collaborative efforts between the Rotary club and several other entities have brought the area to where it is today - a multipurpose centre with state-of-the-art solar panel lighting - the president said.

Meanwhile, Mullings said the 13 projects to come on stream could possibly be completed over a period of three years. The full details, he said, would shortly be made public as part of government efforts to get Jamaicans to tap into renewable energy sources, thus warding off an energy crisis.

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