G. C.
Lalor
j
NUCLEAR INTERESTS IN THE CARInBEAN
FUTURE REQUIREML"JTS
It
is not at alI easy to make estimates of likely energy demand for
Jamaica over the next few years because real per capita income,
GNP,
etc., have not been performing as we wouId have liked. There
is a big question as to whether fc'r severaI years we wilI be abIe to
afford what we wouId like to have, but as is often the case, one must
make educated guesses.
TabIe 3 gives sorne estimates of the growth of peak loads on the
public system. These assume that no major electricity - intensive in–
dustries are added. Table 3 also includes estimates of the conse–
quentíal requirements fo·r installed capacity and maximum unit size.
Year
1980
1985
1990
Table 3
PRO]ECTIONS OF PEAK DEMANDS AND CONSEQUENTIAL
CoNTRAINTS FOR JAMAICA PU&L1C ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
(MVv)
Peak
Demand'
......
__
.~
43~
84n
l,480
Installed
670
1,160
1,950
'Division of ,Energy, Government of Jamaica estimares
"Adapted fro:n
figures
used,
in
IAEA market llurvey
90
150
200
These figures are on the small side when compared with the
present ratings for nuclear pIants. But they could in principIe, be
much larger,
if
electricity energy-intensive industries were capita–
lised.
INDUSTRlES WERE CAPITALlSED
For example, conversion of all the 10calIy produced bauxite to
alumina ingot and fabrication of aluminium products would re–
quire very substantial additional quantities of energy.
m:DIGENEOUS ENERGY SOURCES
Local sources of energy are minoro Charcoal and wood, important
fuel sources for homes in 1930's and 1940's make a negligible con–
tribution nowadays. Hydropower contributes overalI about 1% and
