Broilers to triple capacity at cogeneration plant

Published: Friday December 5, 2008

Jamaica Broilers Group has a plan to triple capacity at its power co-generation plant in St Catherine, with targeted investment of US$4 million to US$5 million (J$312 million to J390 million).

But Chief Executive Officer Robert Levy says the addition of another 10 Megawatts rests on the finalisation of a power purchase agreement with monopoly Jamaica Public Service Company, which manages the national electricity grid.

Broilers, whose main business is poultry, produces its own electri-city, but generates more than it needs to power its operations.

"Right now, we are producing five MW and we are selling to JPS and using some, and there is real potential of expanding that by another 10 MW," Levy told the Financial Gleaner.

But Levy said the expansion would not commence until he has a deal with JPS, which he hopes to finalise early next year.

No comments from JPS

"We have sent them a whole proposal, however I think they are also assessing (developments)," he said.

JPS chose not to comment, saying the relevant officer was unavailable.

"They might be looking at potential downturn in usage. So, they might be looking at when they are going to need the 10 megawatts," said Levy. "They have promised to get back to us pretty shortly."


Source:
Dionne Rose
Jamaica Gleaner
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081205/business/business2.html
dionne.rose@gleanerjm.com