The most important natural resource is bauxite, a soil from which aluminum is produced. Imported oil covers almost the entire energy requirement.
Jamaica is estimated to have the world’s fourth largest bauxite reserves and is a leading exporter.
COUNTRYAAH: Major exports by Jamaica with a full list of the top products exported by the country. Includes trade value in U.S. dollars and the percentage for each product category.
Most of the bauxite extracted is processed into alumina which is then exported. One third of the energy consumed in the country is consumed by the energy-intensive bauxite industry.
Oil is the largest import commodity. No domestic production exists, but foreign companies are looking for oil in Jamaica’s water.
Around a tenth (2016) of electricity is generated by wind and hydropower and solar power plants. Investments are made to increase the share of renewable energy.
According to a decision in 2015, two power plants must be rebuilt to be able to be fired with imported natural gas. The purpose is to reduce fuel costs while reducing the impact on the environment.
Abbreviationfinder: A popular acronym site in the world covering abbreviation for each country. For example, JA stands for Jamaica. Visit itypeusa for more information about Jamaica.
FACTS – ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
Energy use per person
1,009 kilograms of oil equivalent (2014)
Electricity consumption per person
1085 kWh, kWh (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions in total
7 422 thousand tonnes (2014)
Carbon dioxide emissions per inhabitant
2.6 tonnes (2014)
The share of energy from renewable sources
16.8 percent (2015)
2011
December
PNP wins parliamentary elections
December 29
The Social Democratic PNP with Portia Simpson Miller in the lead wins the parliamentary election with 42 of the 63 seats. The other 21 seats go to the right-wing party JLP, which now loses government power.
October
Andrew Holness’s new prime minister
October 23
Former Education Minister Andrew Holness becomes new Prime Minister after Golding resigned in September.
September
Prime Minister Golding resigns
The government unexpectedly announces that Prime Minister Golding will resign as soon as the JLP government party has appointed a new leader who then automatically becomes the head of government. Golding has received a lot of criticism for having long opposed the extradition of drug king Coke to the United States (see June 2010). Golding later said in a comment that the Coke deal is behind the decision to resign.
May
The Minister of Energy is forced to resign
24th of May
Energy and Mines Minister James Robertson resigns with immediate effect after the US revoked his and his wife’s visas. The US authorities give no explanations, but according to media, the reason may be suspicions that Robertson planned to murder a Jamaican visa applicant. Robertson rejects the charges.
2010
June
The drug king is arrested and released
June 22
Gang leader Christopher “Dudus” Coke surrenders to police (see May 2010) and is released to the United States after a few days, where two years later he is sentenced to 23 years in prison. According to US authorities, for a couple of decades Coke has, in principle, enjoyed impunity in his home country, where he has engaged in the smuggling of weapons and drugs between Jamaica and the United States. The case sheds light on the strong ties between gang leaders and politicians in Jamaica; Coke has long been under the patronage of the JLP government and Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
May
State of emergency after an outbreak of violence
May 23
An emergency permit is introduced in the slum area of Tivoli Gardens in west Kingston, since a decision to seize an influential drug king, Christopher “Dudus” Coke, has caused an outbreak of violence. In connection with clashes between security forces and gang members, over 70 people are killed and over 4,000 arrested, the vast majority of civilians.
