Jamaica spend billions on petroleum

The government has reportedly spent about US$1.8 billion or 93 percent of the country’s export earnings to import petroleum products in 2006.

The Energy Ministry is reporting that US$30.8 million barrels of petroleum products were bought during the period.

Director of Energy at the Ministry, Yvonne Barrett Edwards said between 1995 and 2006 there was a constant increase in the consumption of petroleum.

She noted that the government spent approximately US$2 billion on petroleum products in 2007.



According to Mrs. Barrett Edwards, there is need to change the behaviour of Jamaicans to promote proper use of the country’s energy resources.