Dear Editor,

Jamalco’s announcement to spend roughly US$500m to build Jamaica’s first major coal-fired plant, in order to lower the cost of alumina production, is a step towards national prosperity. This initiative will lower the high cost of energy that currently threatens the viability of the bauxite/alumina sector, which earns the third-highest levels of foreign exchange for Jamaica.

I have always believed that Jamaica’s bauxite industry has no future without an energy solution and coal offers the best prospect. The main argument against coal has been that it is dirty fuel and harmful for the environment. This criticism belongs to the past, as clean coal technology (technological options which reduce emissions, reduce waste, and increases the amount of energy gained from each tonne of coal) has made tremendous advancement over the last two decades.

National Environment and Planning Agency is the agency with responsibility to protect the environment, and they have said that a modern coal-burning plant would have less adverse environmental impact than the oil we are now burning.

Jamaica is facing low economic growth and unemployment, and we need investment and jobs to avoid worsened social dysfunction. Who will invest in manufacturing and production when electricity rates are so high? Energy is vital to our national development and the Government of Jamaica must facilitate similar plants as they can substantially lower the cost of electricity.

Tashfeen Ahmad

mrtashfeen@hotmail.com