Has the Pandemic Derailed Jamaica's

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR ENERGY ADVISOR A WEEKLY PUBLICATION OF THE DIALOGUE www.thedialogue.org July 10, 2020

BOARD OF ADVISORS FEATURED Q&A TOP NEWS Nigel Blackaby Global Head, OIL & GAS International Arbitration Group, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Has the Pandemic Spanish Court Mary Rose Brusewitz OKs Extradition to Member, Clark Hill Strasburger Derailed Jamaica’s Mexico of Former Jeffrey Davidow Head of Pemex Senior Counselor, The Cohen Group Renewables Goals? A Spanish court approved Mexico’s request to extradite the Jonathan C. Hamilton Partner, former head of state oil company White & Case Pemex, Emilio Lozoya, who stands Ana Heeren accused of corruption. Managing Director, Page 2 FTI Consulting

Raul Herrera RENEWABLES Partner, Corporate & Securities Practice, Brazil’s Petrobras Arnold & Porter James R. Jones Begins Sale of Chairman, Biofuels Unit Monarch Global Strategies Brazilian state-run oil company Jorge Kamine Jamaica’s minister of science, energy and technology, Fayval Williams, laid out a series of re- Petrobras has begun the sales Partner, newable energy goals before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Caribbean. // File Photo: Jamaican Corporate & Financial Services, Government. process of its fully owned biofuels Willkie Farr & Gallagher unit, Petrobras Biocombustivel, Craig A. Kelly Jamaican Minister of Science, Energy and Technology the firm said. Senior Director, Fayval Williams earlier this year said the Caribbean nation Page 3 Americas Int’l Gov’t Relations, Exxon Mobil was poised for an energy revolution that will see Jamaica OIL & GAS Tyler Kruzich Q achieving 100 percent electrification, reaching a 50 percent Director, Int’l Gov’t Affairs for renewable energy mix by 2037 and increasing the contribution of energy Mesa Sworn in as the Western Hemisphere, Chevron to economic growth. Additionally, she said Jamaica was working on New Colombian Jorge León fortifying its power grid in the face of natural disasters and on diver- Energy Minister Energy Economist, BP sifying its energy sources to withstand fuel-price volatility. Williams’ Diego Mesa, who previously served as Colombia’s vice minis- Jeremy Martin comments, in March, came before the worst of the coronavirus outbreak Vice President, Energy & Sustainability, hit the region. What is the current state of Jamaica’s energy sector? ter of energy, was sworn in as the Institute of the Americas Andean nation’s energy minister What are the most significant challenges it is facing? How realistic are Larry Pascal last week. He succeeds María Chairman, the goals that Williams set out, and to what extent has the Covid-19 Fernanda Suárez, who resigned Americas Practice Group, pandemic changed the plan’s assumptions? for “personal and family reasons.” Haynes & Boone Page 2 Charles Shapiro President, Audrey Marks, Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States: World Affairs Council of Atlanta “In its bid to achieve the ‘Vision 2030 Jamaica: National R. Kirk Sherr President, Development Plan,’ the energy sector has long been recog- Clearview Strategy Group nized as a key sector in realizing Jamaica’s economic growth Mark Thurber A Partner, aspirations. Despite the uncertainties and setbacks created by the ongo- Hunton Andrews Kurth ing pandemic, the government of Jamaica continues to press ahead with Jose L. Valera its plans and strategies to revolutionize the energy sector. On the basis of Partner, Mayer Brown LLP the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a 20-year road map for the electricity Lisa Viscidi investment landscape, 32 percent of electricity generation by 2030 is to Program Director, be met with renewables, and 50 percent of electricity generation by 2037. Inter-American Dialogue This includes solar, wind, hydroelectric, waste-to-energy and biomass. A total investment of 2.8 billion Jamaican dollars is anticipated, which will Mesa // File Photo: Colombian Government. Continued on page 3

OIL AND GAS NEWS oping unconventional resources could multiply NEWS BRIEFS Colombia’s dwindling reserves of both oil and Mesa Takes Over as gas by four, Mesa added. Brazil Connects 139 MW of Wind Farms in June: Colombia’s Mines Spanish Court Agrees Power Sector Regulator and Energy Minister to Extradition of Brazilian power sector regulator Aneel has an- nounced that the country approved 139 mega- Diego Mesa was sworn in on July 2 as Colom- Former Pemex Chief watts (MW) of wind farms to begin operation bia’s new mines and energy minister, following last month, Renewables Now reported Monday. the resignation of María Fernanda Suárez for Spain’s National Administrative Tribunal on In total, the country added 141.47 megawatts “personal and family” reasons, S&P Global Monday agreed to the extradite Emilio Lozoya, of new capacity last month, with wind farms Platts reported. Mesa had previously served a former chief executive of Mexican state oil contributing 98.4 percent of that amount. The as the country’s vice minister of energy. “He company Pemex, who stands accused of cor- total capacity is three times larger than what had been accompanying Minister Suárez in the ruption, the court said in a statement, Reuters Aneel had initially expected for the month, at issue of the energy transition, so that Colom- reported. Lozoya, 45, is wanted in Mexico 54.84 MW. The new additions generate com- bia consolidates itself as a leader in foreign on charges that include bribery and money bined electricity equivalent to powering a city direct investment, an important issue for our laundering of $280 million in connection with of 3.6 million inhabitants, Aneel said. Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht and a Mexican fertilizer company, El Universal report- Mesa succeeds María ed. Lozoya, who has denied any wrongdoing, Power Outages Reported Fernanda Suárez, who was arrested in the Spanish city of Málaga in resigned for “personal and February, months after fleeing Mexico. He was in Parts of Venezuela family” reasons. the head of Pemex from 2012 and 2016 and is Erratic power outages were reported in Venezu- known to be a close ally of former President ela’s capital and several other states on Mon- Enrique Peña Nieto, an association that has day evening, with the country’s state electrical country’s public finances,” President Iván raised questions regarding the extent to which company, Corpoelec, saying on Twitter that “an Duque said in announcing Mesa’s appointment, other high-level officials knew of Lozoya’s event in the electrical system” had hit power Dinero reported. “Today, I assume a great alleged actions. Lozoya had already agreed to in parts of Caracas and states to the west, responsibility as the [minister of mines and be extradited to Mexico, the country’s attorney the Associated Press reported. Corpoelec did energy],” Mesa wrote on Twitter following his general, Alejandro Gertz, said last week. not provide further details. On social media, swearing-in ceremony, expressing enthusiasm [Editor’s note: See related Q&A on corruption Venezuelans said lights had flickered on and for a “sustainable reactivation” of the economy in Mexico’s energy sector in the June 7, 2019 off repeatedly, while other areas were still led by the mining and energy sectors. Before issue of the Energy Advisor.] experiencing blackouts on Monday evening. assuming his role as vice minister of energy at Corpoelec later said power had been restored the start of Duque’s presidency in 2018, Mesa in 90 percent of Caracas. had worked as an economist specializing in Venezuela Starts July energy at the International Monetary Fund and With Lowest Crude as head of the Bogotá office of accounting firm Fuel Tanker Explosion in PriceWaterhouseCoopers, S&P Global Platts Production in Years reported. As minister, Mesa will face important Colombia Kills Eleven, challenges in the context of lower international Venezuela began July with crude production of Injures Dozens More crude prices and plunging demand for oil due about 300,000 barrels per day and no oil rigs At least 11 people were killed, and more than to the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as ongoing in operation, Argus Media reported last Friday, 40 others were injured, after an overturned fuel debates in Colombia over the use of hydraulic citing a series of internal operation reports tanker exploded in the town of Pueblo Viejo fracturing, or fracking, according to the report. from state oil company PDVSA. It is the lowest on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, local police The development of unconventional resources production level Venezuela has had in nearly said, Vanguardia reported Wednesday. Crowds could be “a game changer for the Colombian nine decades, without taking into account a had gathered around the tilted vehicle to try oil and gas sector,” Mesa said in an event held two-month oil strike from December 2002 to to siphon off fuel when the tanker burst into last year at the Inter-American Dialogue, in January 2003. In July of last year, the Andean flames. Officials fear the death toll will rise, as which he participated as vice minister. Devel- nation produced about 780,000 barrels per some victims are treated for severe burns.

day (bpd), according to estimates by Argus. FEATURED Q&A / Continued from page 1 According to the PDVSA documents, the main reason why production has decreased across serve to continue to modernize electricity Minister Williams’ comments on the need the company’s joint ventures in the Orinoco infrastructure, diversify fuel sources and for renewables to strengthen the Jamaican heavy oil belt and its mature eastern and institutionalize energy conservation and economy, where nearly 10 percent of GDP western divisions is a lack of storage capacity, efficiency. Prime Minister Andrew Holness (around $1.3 billion annually) is spent on which in turn reflects the company’s struggle has long advocated for Jamaica to be a fuel imports. Energy theft is one of the to export its oil amid tough U.S. sanctions and leader in solar energy. We have witnessed utility’s biggest issues, and it is common- plunging demand due to the Covid-19 pandem- tremendous growth in the sector, particularly place to see advertisements on Jamaican ic, according to the report. The reports also in the last decade. Jamaica boasts some television warning of the potential health cite other problems, including a lack of diluent of the largest solar and wind facilities in and electrocution risks of this widespread required to blend the heavy Orinoco crude, the the Caribbean. A few months ago, we also practice. However, the reality is that, with breakdown of equipment and electricity outag- commissioned into service a second lique- such expensive electricity, many Jamaicans es. Crude oil output in Venezuela plummeted fied natural gas power plant, which has been simply cannot afford to pay the power bills. nearly 200,000 bpd in June, to approximately providing power to the national grid. We This means 100 percent electrification is 422,400 bpd on June 28, Resilience reported have exceeded all our targets for renewable meaningless if many cannot afford to pay in its weekly energy bulletin. In the first half energy, currently generating more than 20 for their electricity, and reducing this theft of June, production from the Orinoco belt percent of our electricity from renewable is important for Jamaica Public Service fell by 50 percent to just 148,000 bpd, while sources. A year ago, the government suc- (the private utility monopoly) to balance its production from the Maracaibo basin fell by 40 cessfully completed an initial public offering books. For the last decade, there has been a percent to 83,600 bpd, according to the report. for the Wigton Windfarm, which saw more general trend toward renewables in the Ca- than 31,000 shareholders taking up the offer. ribbean region, but progress has often been Not only did the government raise 5.5 billion slow. The pandemic won’t change this in RENEWABLES NEWS Jamaican dollars, but it also provided an the long run, although in the short term, low opportunity for ordinary Jamaicans to own global oil prices and damage to the region’s a national asset and to have a stake in the economies will certainly have an impact Brazil’s Petrobras national energy agenda. The stock more on the funding available for the renewable Begins Sales Process than doubled since the listing and, despite energy transition.” the contraction of the stock market since of its Biofuels Unit the pandemic, it has bounced back sharply Jed Bailey, managing director and continues to be one of the most actively of Energy Narrative: “I believe Brazilian state oil company Petrobras has traded stocks. Cognizant of the need for col- Jamaica’s energy sector goals initiated the sales process of its biofuels unit, laborative approaches to achieve its goals, A are very achievable. Jamaica’s Petrobras Biocombustivel, the firm said in a the government is working with international electrification rate is already very high, and stock market disclosure, Renewables Now re- partners, including from the region. To this the goal of reaching 50 percent renewable ported last Friday. Petrobras is seeking to sell end, Jamaica concluded an Energy Frame- energy by 2037 is less aggressive than other all of the shares in the unit, known as PBIO, as work Agreement with the United States, Caribbean nations that aim to reach 100 per- well as 100 percent of the stakes that the unit which will generate economic growth and cent renewable energy in less time. Jamaica holds in three biodiesel plants. PBIO’s 50 per- create jobs through private sector invest- is also better positioned to diversify its ener- cent stake and 8.4 percent stake in the BSBios ments in infrastructure projects.” gy supply, given its infrastructure to import and Bambui Bioenergia plants, respectively, natural gas and its hydropower potential. will not be part of the sale. PBIO is one of the James Ellsmoor, founder and di- Jamaica’s renewable energy share is already South American country’s largest biodiesel rector of Island Innovation: “The 18 percent; almost tripling that share in 17 producers, according to Petrobras. The unit energy transition in Jamaica years will require significant investment, has about 580,000 cubic meters of production A is both necessary and inevita- but it is doable. The main challenges to this capacity. Last year, it made up 5.5 percent of ble. Across the Caribbean, high electricity vision are Jamaica’s high debt levels and the market share and registered net revenue of generation costs are holding back economic persistently high ‘nontechnical’ electricity 929 million reais ($173.6 million), Renewables growth and limiting competitiveness in areas losses. One out of every four kilowatt-hours Now reported. That figure remained unchanged such as manufacturing. As energy is such a that Jamaica’s utility produces currently in annual terms but represented an increase of core economic pillar, I completely agree with goes unpaid. This limits the company’s abil- 36.2 percent as compared to its 2017 earnings. Continued on page 6

The biofuels sector in Brazil has been facing exceptional challenges in recent months amid ADVISOR Q&A lower international crude oil prices, making the renewable fuel less competitive just as demand dropped due to the Covid-19 pandem- Are Big Changes in Store for the ic. “One-quarter of sugar and ethanol plants in Brazil are in danger of closing by the end Dominican Republic Under Abinader? of the year because of the coronavirus crisis,” Fernanda Delgado, a professor and research Opposition candidate Luis undermined by corruption scandals (such as coordinator at the Center for Energy Studies Abinader won the Dominican in relation to Odebrecht), its use of extend- of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation in Brazil, told Republic’s presidential election ed patronage networks and its inability the Energy Advisor in May. [Editor’s note: See Q on Sunday, ending the cen- to present fresh alternatives to voters. related Q&A in the May 15 issue of the Energy ter-left Dominican Liberation Party’s (PLD) Dominicans—and in particular the emerging Advisor.] 16-year control of the Caribbean nation. middle class—were increasingly dissatisfied Outgoing President Danilo Medina and with the status quo and wanted change. ruling party candidate Gonzalo Castillo both Third, the Covid-19 pandemic exposed the POLITICAL NEWS congratulated Abinader on his triumph. ineffectiveness of the administration and What does Abinader’s victory suggest about the Dominican Republic’s direction, Trump, López and to what extent will it differ from the For Abinader, governing Obrador Meet policies of the PLD? What were the most will be a tall order, as important factors driving voters’ prefer- he faces an implosion at White House ences this election cycle? What challenges of the tourism industry will Abinader face as the country’s next amid a health crisis...” president, and what sort of cabinet will he In his first foreign trip since taking office as — Ernesto Sagás Mexico’s president 19 months ago, Andrés select? Manuel López Obrador met Wednesday in Washington with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ernesto Sagás, professor in the rolled back economic growth in the midst of where the two leaders discussed trade, the Department of Ethnic Studies at a contested electoral campaign. And fourth, economy and immigration, the Voice of Colorado State University: “The it was just a matter of time before the politi- America reported. Trump and López Obrador A victory of opposition presiden- cal pendulum would swing back. Dominican also said relations have improved between the tial candidate Luis Abinader of the Partido electoral politics has been characterized by two countries. “The relationship between the Revolucionario Moderno (PRM) marks a new its competitive nature, and the PLD could no U.S. and Mexico has never been closer than it chapter in the recent political history of the longer hold on to power. But for Abinader, is right now,” Trump said in the White House’s Dominican Republic. The ruling Partido de governing will be a tall order, as he faces Rose Garden. Trump, who has made dispar- la Liberación Dominicana (PLD), which a an implosion of the tourism industry amid a aging comments about Mexican immigrants, year ago seemed invincible, fell victim to its major public health crisis, an ongoing crime used the threat of trade tariffs in order to force own hubris. First, President Danilo Medina wave and the demands of thousands of Mexico to curtail illegal immigration and has unsuccessfully maneuvered to modify the followers eager to enjoy the perks of power pledged to build and compel Mexico to pay for constitution in order to become eligible for as he tries to battle corruption.” a massive wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a third term, and afterwards he pushed for on Wednesday called U.S.-Mexico relations the nomination of his anointed presidential “outstanding,” adding that he and López candidate (Gonzalo Castillo). As a result, EDITOR’S NOTE: More commentary on this Obrador “put the interests of our countries former President Leonel Fernández left the topic appears in Tuesday’s issue of the Latin first.” López Obrador responded, “As president PLD to form his own presidential movement, America Advisor. of Mexico, instead of remembering the insults splitting the party in the process. Second, and things like that against my country, we after so many years in power, the PLD was have received from you, President Trump, understanding and respect.” The United States like you—they’re tough negotiators and great the White House came just days after the new is home to 36 million Mexican-Americans, said businesspeople, Mr. President,” Trump told U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, Trump, who added that they make up a “big López Obrador. The Mexican president’s visit to took effect July 1. “It is very important for percentage” of small-business owners. “They’re

NEWS BRIEFS us to be launching this new agreement,” said create fictitious personas posing as reporters, López Obrador. The two leaders signed a joint post content, and manage Pages masquer- U.S. Seizes 81 Vehicles declaration recognizing “the advancements our ading as news outlets,” Facebook said. “They two countries have achieved toward a renewed posted about local news and events including Destined for Venezuela and strengthened partnership equipped to the domestic politics and elections, political in Smuggling Ring twenty-first century economic and security memes, criticism of the political opposition, U.S. federal investigators said Wednesday that challenges of our North American region.” The declaration also called the USMCA “the ideal they had seized 81 vehicles worth an estimat- They posted about local ed $3.2 million on their way to Venezuela as instrument to provide economic certainty and increased confidence to our countries.” The news and events part of a smuggling ring operated for wealthy including domestic poli- and politically connected people, the Associ- declaration added that $1.6 billion worth of ated Press reported. Anthony Salisbury, chief trade crosses the countries’ shared border tics and elections...” of the Miami Homeland Security Investigations every day. It also said the United States and — Facebook office, said the vehicles were to be smuggled Mexico will “continue to coordinate closely as in violation of U.S. export laws and sanctions. we respond to unprecedented health, security media organizations and journalists, and most and economic challenges” amid the Covid-19 recently … about the coronavirus pandemic,” pandemic. [Editor’s note: See Q&A on López it added. Facebook said it had already taken Obrador’s visit in Wednesday’s issue of the down some of the content posted by the Moody’s Downgrades daily Latin America Advisor.] network for violations of its community stan- Suriname’s Credit Rating dards, including hate speech. The president’s With Negative Outlook office did not immediately respond to Reuters’ Facebook Removes request for comment. “Based on the Facebook Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday report, it’s impossible to evaluate what kind of downgraded its long-term issuer and senior Pages Linked to Office profile was blocked and whether the platform unsecured ratings of Suriname’s government of Brazil’s President crossed the line into censorship,” said Flávio debt to Caa3 from B3 and maintained a nega- Bolsonaro, who is also a federal senator. tive outlook. The downgrade “reflects a much Facebook on Wednesday suspended a network Facebook’s allegations come as the Supreme higher probability of a distressed exchange or of social media accounts it said participat- Court investigates the president and some of default on Suriname’s market debt” than the ed in “coordinated inauthentic behavior” in his allies, who have been accused of running ratings agency expected in April when it low- Brazil, some of which had links to individuals a coordinated misinformation campaign on ered the country’s rating to B3, Moody’s said in associated with President Jair Bolsonaro, social media. [Editor’s note: See related Q&A a statement. Fitch Ratings took similar action members of his family and the Social Liberal in the July 2 issue of the daily Latin America last week, downgrading the country’s long-term Party, Facebook said in a statement. “We found Advisor.] foreign currency issuer default rating to C. this activity as part of our investigation into suspected coordinated inauthentic behavior in Brazil as reported on by the press and ref- ECONOMIC NEWS El Salvador’s Homicides erenced in recent congressional testimony in Fall by More Than 50% Brazil,” the statement said. Among the people Bolivian President in Bukele’s First Year Facebook said had links to the accounts were employees of the office of the president and Names Ortiz as New Homicides in El Salvador fell by more than 50 the offices of his sons Eduardo and Flávio. percent in President Nayib Bukele’s first year The company’s probe found a presence of Economy Minister in office, Reuters reported Wednesday. While 35 duplicate or fake Facebook accounts, 14 Bukele’s government attributes the decrease to pages and one group, as well as 38 Instagram Interim Bolivian President Jeanine Áñez on heightened police and military presence on the accounts. Around 883,000 accounts followed Tuesday named Óscar Ortiz, a former sen- streets and tighter security in jails, a study by one or more of these pages, about 350 ac- ator, as her new economy minister, Agence the Brussels-based International Crisis Group counts were members of the group, and nearly France-Presse reported. Ortiz succeeds José suggests criminal gangs may have made 917,000 people followed one or more of the Luis Parada, who has been Bolivia’s economy informal deals with authorities and decided Instagram accounts, Facebook said. Addition- minister since Áñez took office last November to lower levels of violence. Security Minister ally, the so-called network spent around $1,500 following the resignation of longtime President Rogelio Rivas recently told Reuters that “there on ads on Facebook, the statement said. The Evo Morales. Áñez’s government did not give a has not been any contact [with gangs].” accounts were made “to evade enforcement, reason for Parada’s removal.

FEATURED Q&A / Continued from page 3 LATIN AMERICA ENERGY ADVISOR is published weekly by the Inter-American Dialogue Copyright © 2020 ity to invest, increases the cost of electricity ployees, but the issues of customers’ ability to those that do pay and requires frequent to pay and the ability for the utility to collect Erik Brand financial intervention from the government. will continue to be a challenge. Communi- Publisher [email protected] Jamaica’s high external debt—currently near cating and building trust with customers 100 percent of GDP—and the government’s around their electricity bills and solutions to Gene Kuleta Editor laudable efforts to maintain a high primary address electricity theft while maintaining [email protected] the utility’s fiscal solvency is paramount. Anastasia Chacón González Keeping the lights on, protecting employees Reporter & Associate Editor The main challenges ... and supporting vulnerable customers while [email protected] are Jamaica’s high debt addressing the financial strain on the utility are immediate challenges. The IDB is in levels and persistently high ‘nontechnical’ dialogue with the government of Jamaica on Michael Shifter, President instruments such as an oil hedge and initia- electricity losses.” Rebecca Bill Chavez, Nonresident Senior Fellow tives to address access to reliable electricity — Jed Bailey Sergio Bitar, Nonresident Senior Fellow for vulnerable communities. Certainly, oil Joan Caivano, Director, Special Projects price volatility remains a challenge, but we Michael Camilleri, Director, Rule of Law Program budget surplus to rein in its debt levels also see a window of opportunity to accelerate Kevin Casas-Zamora, Nonresident Senior Fellow limit the country’s financial flexibility. The toward digital, distributed and decarbonized Héctor Castro Vizcarra, Nonresident Senior Fellow Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the sit- transformation. The IDB is supporting the Julia Dias Leite, Nonresident Senior Fellow uation, decimating Jamaica’s tourism sector. Generation Procurement Entity on competi- Ariel Fiszbein, Director, Education Program The resulting recession and rising unemploy- tive renewable procurement, but more must Peter Hakim, President Emeritus ment will strain public finances and increase be done to build the capacity of energy Nora Lustig, Nonresident Senior Fellow arrears in electricity payments. Falling elec- institutions to enhance efficiency, transpar- Margaret Myers, Director, Asia and tricity demand will reduce the need for new ency, competition and resiliency within the Latin America Program power plants, delaying the planned transi- sector. The embrace of e-mobility, supported Manuel Orozco, Director, Migration, Remittances & Development tion. If the crisis stretches from months into by the IDB and others, as a catalyst for Xiaoyu Pu, Nonresident Senior Fellow years, the resulting economic damage and energy sector transformation is promising, Jeffrey Puryear, Senior Fellow rising government debt will put Jamaica’s and the commitment by the government on Mateo Samper, Nonresident Senior Fellow target of reaching 50 percent renewable electric vehicles and other energy efficiency Tamar Solnik, Director, Finance & Administration energy by 2037 in jeopardy.” initiatives must be guided in such a way so Lisa Viscidi, Director, Energy Program as to promote energy independence at the Denisse Yanovich, Director of Development and Malaika Masson, Kings- household, business and national levels. The External Relations ton-based senior regional ener- political commitment has not diminished. Latin America Energy Advisor is published gy specialist at the Inter-Amer- Drawing on regional partners’ support, we weekly, with the exception of some major ican Development Bank: “Prior can be more proactive and sometimes U.S. holidays, by the Inter-American Dialogue A 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 800 to Covid-19, Jamaica was an early leader radical to facilitate the change Jamaica Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-822-9002 among Caribbean states, maintaining good wants to see in its energy sector—one that www.thedialogue.org momentum on its clean energy agenda. With prioritizes reduced cost, increased reliability ISSN 2163-7962 Covid-19, the energy sector has experienced and improved sustainability.” a tumultuous turn. Demand for energy fell Subscription Inquiries are welcomed at [email protected] 13 percent off-peak and 10 percent evening The Advisor welcomes comments on its Q&A The opinions expressed by the members of the Board of peak, and the private utility experienced a 60 section. Readers can write editor Gene Kuleta Advisors and by guest commentators do not necessarily percent decline in revenue. Currently, the fo- at [email protected]. represent those of the publisher. The analysis is the sole cus is on the health and safety of energy em- view of each commentator and does not necessarily represent the views of their respective employers or firms. The information in this report has been obtained from reliable sources, but neither its accuracy and completeness, nor the opinions based thereon, are guaranteed. If you have any questions relating to the contents of this publication, contact the editorial offices of the Inter-American Dialogue. 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