KINGSTON, Jamaica – JPS has opened a centre of excellence as part of its strategy to train and certify local and regional grid operators. The official launch, which took place Wednesday morning at the JPS System Control Center on Washington Boulevard, has been hailed as a pioneering hub for knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Speaking at the ceremony, Director of System Operations, Lincoy Small recalled the challenge issued to the company which gave birth to the new facility.

“In 2016, an unfortunate incident resulted in almost 90 per cent of our customers losing power. It was a dark day for the company, literally and figuratively, and we made a promise that it would never happen again,” he said. “With the JPS Center of Excellence, we have delivered on our commitment by creating a space to ensure upskilling at its best so workers in the energy sector can be equipped with the know-how to rival those of other utilities globally.”

The state-of-the-art facility, which will be used to develop expertise in grid operations and management, contingency planning, and emergency response for utilities, was launched in partnership with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC).

Executive Director of CARILEC, Cletus Bertin, lauded the initiative as a “game-changer in helping the Corporation fulfil its mandate to assist member states in accessing resources to adopt best practices and advance energy delivery and management.”

Hugh Grant, president and CEO of JPS also addressed attendees and underscored the importance of strategic partnerships in bolstering performance of utilities in order to provide better service.

“There is an ongoing energy transition that we cannot turn a blind eye to,” he said. “To unlock the opportunities of that transition, we must collaborate, and strategic partnerships require humility and a recognition of the fact that this is not about glory for any one organization, but rather for our customers.

He continued: “I’m encouraged by the presence of representatives from the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR), CARILEC, our Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and our academic institutions, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona and the University of the Technology (UTech) Jamaica, who have been with us along the journey.”

JPS Chairman and Senior Vice President of Operations at Marubeni Power International, Damian Obiglio, shared that the opening of the centre will also serve as a hub for the company to strengthen its relationships with academic institutions through continued research and development.

“There are more urgent demands on utilities to build more resilient grids in the face of climate change and it is important that we collaborate with our young academics who will usher us into a new direction,” he remarked. “There are new global targets for clean energy and sustainability, and a 2024 Center of Excellence would be nothing if we didn’t consider the current climate situation.”

The JPS Centre of Excellence will form a vital part of the Caribbean’s energy transformation, as the company works to meet the highest international standards in its operations.

The ceremony ended with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between JPS and CARILEC, followed by a symbolic ribbon cutting marking the official opening. Attendees later got a tour of the facility which gave them exclusive access to some of the advanced technology used by the light and power company.