RETROFITTING of the 120-megawatt Bogue Plant is scheduled to be completed in less than three months, enabling the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Jamaica for the first time.

According to the Electricity Sector Enterprise Team (ESET), the project is progressing on schedule and has a commercial operation date of August 15.

Chairman of ESET, Dr Vincent Lawrence, said at a press briefing on Tuesday that the gas turbines at the St James location have already been retrofitted and the facility upgraded at a cost of US$22.7 million.

“It is really an achievement and something that I think the Jamaican public should take an interest in, to observe the progress that has been made and the commitment from both the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and the gas suppliers New Fortress Energy,” he said at the briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister.

The project, launched in October 2015, includes conversion of the gas turbines to dual-fuel feed for the transmission of LNG and automotive diesel oil.

Meanwhile, construction of the regasification facilities at the Montego Bay Freeport and of the pipeline to Bogue is in progress.

The aim of the press briefing was to update the public on the country’s electricity generation projects. Also present were ESET members Chris Zacca, Professor Alvin Wint, and Paul Scott.