KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) disclosed that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today with the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech) that will see 100 facility and property managers in the public sector being trained in energy auditing through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP).

PAJ, in a release today, said the training will facilitate the development of critical technical skills which will support the PCJ’s thrust to lower the public sector’s energy consumption. The aim of this capacity building is to ensure the sustainability of energy efficiency projects executed at Government of Jamaica (GOJ) facilities under the EECP.

“Since 2011, a total of 43 entities have benefited from interventions, representing an investment of close to $1.2 billion which has resulted in savings of more than $200 million on the GOJ’s energy bills. The training will also bolster the GOJ’s drive to set the pace in energy efficiency and conservation as well as environmental stewardship,” PCJ said.

A major objective of the training is to certify participants to carry out energy audits and to enable designated officers to spearhead measures to reduce energy consumption at their respective entities. Participants will also be expected to act as energy monitors, influence behaviour change in the workplace, promote the procurement of energy efficient equipment and appliances and foster more proactive approaches to energy management and conservation, PAJ added.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Robert Clarke, Acting Group General Manager, PCJ said, “In addition to our ongoing energy intervention projects, PCJ, through the EECP is actively working to develop the necessary technical skills and increase capacity building within the Public Sector that will enable the government to drive down its energy costs and tangibly demonstrate the impact of effective efficiency and conservation measures. We believe that this training will empower participants to play a role in that effort as the Government takes the lead in energy efficiency and conservation.”

Meanwhile, UTech, Jamaica’s President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie noted that University of Technology, Jamaica and the Petroleum Cooperation of Jamaica have enjoyed a very productive and long-standing partnership on initiatives aimed at capacity building in engineering education, scholarship and research.

“This new partnership, together with the forerunner partnerships forged between our two institutions will undoubtedly serve our country well,” he said.