New regional business organisation launched

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The St Lucia-based Caribbean Energy Chamber (CEC) was launched in Guyana today with the organisers saying it is being established for greater global recognition of the energy challenges faced by the Caribbean and to prioritize affordable net zero energy security for the region.

“CEC will serve as a hub for uniting all energy stakeholders in the Caribbean, including those from both public and private sectors (demand and supply sides). We will be hosting workshops, round tables, and breakout sessions at conferences aimed at enabling actions to help the implementation of energy transition and security in the Caribbean,” said the funding chair, Melanie Chen.

She said the CEC is now in the process of setting up its 23-member board and with 10 members already enlisted, she is in the process of finding nationals from Guyana to represent the country and its peculiar needs on the board.

She said also that the CEC is being established for greater global recognition of the energy challenges faced by the Caribbean and to prioritize affordable net zero energy security for the region.

The new pan-Caribbean chamber non-partisan and independent organization will be governed by the 23-member founding board for the first three years, with CEC members electing a new board on an annual basis.

CEC membership will comprise companies and individuals from the Caribbean and around the globe, Chen said, thanking the St Lucia government for facilitating the private sector grouping and the Guyana government for facilitating the launch on the sidelines of the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo.

As part of its initial efforts, CEC will focus on key areas, including energy efficiency and public awareness; technical capacity roll out, which includes an engineering pilot programme with Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago; grid modernisation and promoting distributed generation; assisting in developing bankable projects and looking at a bundling approach on a national/ regional level versus project level.

“We share this vision with the region's leadership and that will be reflected in the pragmatic approach of CEC. This approach is important as the Caribbean is faced with major issues such as climate change and conflict which directly or indirectly affect the region,” Chen added.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.