KINGSTON, Jamaica — Internationally acclaimed energy transition expert Dr Ramón Méndez Galain, widely recognised for leading Uruguay’s groundbreaking transformation into one of the world’s foremost renewable energy economies, will feature at the sixth installment of the Maurice Facey Lecture on June 10, 2026.

This year’s lecture is being held under the theme, “Breaking the Grid: Charting Jamaica’s Path to Renewable Energy”.

Hosted at the Jamaica Conference Centre beginning at 4:00 pm, the 2026 lecture will examine the opportunities, challenges and policy decisions shaping Jamaica’s renewable energy future at a time when the country is actively pursuing ambitious national energy goals. The event is free and open to the public.

This year’s lecture comes at a particularly important moment for Jamaica’s energy sector. As the nation navigates heightened global fuel volatility and works to strengthen its infrastructure against increasing climate and grid vulnerabilities, the conversation around energy independence has taken on renewed urgency. Jamaica currently derives nearly 88 per cent of its electricity generation from imported fossil fuels, while electricity prices remain among the highest in the region.

At the same time, the Government has committed to a national target of achieving 50 per cent renewable energy generation by 2030, a transition widely viewed as essential to improving national competitiveness, strengthening energy security, and reducing long-term costs for consumers and businesses alike.

This year’s keynote speaker, Dr Ramón Méndez Galain, is internationally recognised as a global leader in renewable energy transformation and climate policy. His pioneering work has earned him widespread international acclaim, including being named by Fortune magazine as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders and receiving both the prestigious Carnot Prize in 2023 and the Climate Breakthrough Award in 2025.

As Uruguay’s national director of energy from 2008 to 2015, he led the country’s historic energy transition, resulting in 98 per cent of Uruguay’s electricity generation coming from renewable sources, including approximately 40 per cent from wind energy, while simultaneously cutting electricity generation costs by half. Uruguay is now widely regarded as one of the world’s most successful renewable energy models.

Dr Méndez Galain later served as Uruguay’s Secretary of Climate Change, where he played a leading role in negotiations surrounding the Paris Climate Agreement. He has also served as Chairman of the Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and as a board member of the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Since March 2025, he has served as President of REN21, the global renewable energy policy network, while also leading Fundación Ivy, a think tank advising governments and private sector organisations on accelerating renewable energy adoption and sustainable development strategies.

Chairman of the Pan Jamaica Group and C.B. Facey Foundation, Stephen Facey, shared: “The Maurice Facey Lecture Series has always sought to spark meaningful conversations about Jamaica’s future by engaging local audiences with global expertise and transformative ideas. Ramón’s experience demonstrates that ambitious renewable energy transition is achievable, even for relatively small nations, and his insights will be invaluable as Jamaica charts its own path forward.”

Established in 2019 to honour the late Maurice Facey, OJ, JP, a pioneer of Kingston’s modern skyline and a passionate advocate for transformative urban development, the Maurice Facey Lecture Series brings together globally respected thinkers to explore issues critical to Jamaica’s development.

Over the years, the series has evolved into a high-level platform connecting global innovation with local policy conversations, engaging audiences of government ministers, private sector leaders, urban planners, academics and development professionals.

Executive Director of the C.B. Facey Foundation, Gayon Douglas, noted: “Beyond the public address, we have structured a series of surrounding events around the lecture week designed to facilitate direct, high-touch dialogues between Dr Méndez Galain and key local stakeholders, policymakers and industry practitioners. Our goal is to ensure that his profound global experiences can serve as a practical resource as local leadership continues to shape and implement Jamaica’s sustainable energy strategies.”

Hosted by the Pan Jamaica Group and the C.B. Facey Foundation, the annual event underscores both organisations’ commitment to national development. This year’s sponsors include the ROK Hotel, Caribbean Policy Research Institute, Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the Jamaican Institute of Architects.