Jamaica Braces for Beryl, with $900 Million of Projects at Risk

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Hurricane Beryl is showing little mercy as it veers through the Caribbean, having devastated Grenada and Barbados and now heading for Jamaica, where it is expected to traverse the island throughout Wednesday. At least six people are believed to have died as of Wednesday, and Jamaica's Meteorological Service warns Beryl is expected to cause life-threatening winds, storm surge and heavy rainfall. Industrial Info is tracking nearly US$900 million worth of active and planned projects on Jamaica, nearly half of which are in an advanced engineering phase.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the changing conditions surrounding Beryl.

Click on the image at right for Industrial Info's Disaster Impact Tracker map of Hurricane Beryl's projected course.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Jamaica, according to the Meteorological Service. Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula also is likely to be affected in the coming days; for more information, see July 1, 2024, article - Hurricane Beryl's Path Holds Nearly $30 Billion of Industrial Projects.

Of the 57 operational plants on Jamaica tracked by Industrial Info, 19 are in the Power Industry and 17 are in the Food & Beverage Industry. Other industries represented include Metals & Minerals (five facilities, including two mines), Chemical Processing (four) and Industrial Manufacturing (four). Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Plant Database can click here for a list of detailed profiles for operational plants in Jamaica, and can click here for a list detailed profiles for plant that are planned, engineered, under construction or on hold.

Jamaica Public Service Company, a public utility and subsidiary of Marubeni Corporation (Tokyo, Japan), is pursuing the three-phase development of a solar complex in Johns Hall, Clarendon, located toward the center of the island. The first phase, which currently is slated to begin construction toward the end of 2025, would add 25 megawatts (MW) for the local grid; in subsequent years, a proposed second phase would double capacity and a proposed third phase would add 50 MW, bringing the total output to 100 MW as early as 2028.

The project is geared toward Jamaica's goal of 20% of renewable energy in its energy mix by 2030, which was adopted as part of its national energy policy in 2010. Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Power Plant and Project databases can learn more from a detailed plant profile and read detailed project reports on Phase I, Phase II and Phase III.

The single Jamaican facility with the largest number of upcoming projects is state-owned Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica's refinery in Kingston, which processes 35,000 barrels per day (BBL/d) of crude. The refinery is preparing to perform US$7 million in upgrades to its asphalt unit toward the end of the year, before kicking off the construction of a new, US$20 million asphalt storage tank in the first quarter of 2025. The existing asphalt unit produces 1,000 BBL/d of asphalt from heavy fuel oils, plastic and rubber.

It is unclear how Beryl could affect the schedules for these projects. Later this year, the refinery also expects to begin work on the US$7 million replacement of a heater on its only Crude Unit; the US$6 million refurbishment of a heavy fuel oil tank that the company seeks to return to operations; and the US$5.5 million replacement of a heater on its naphtha hydrotreater, which processes 6,400 BBL/d. Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Petroleum Refining Plant and Project databases can learn more from a detailed plant profile and read detailed project reports on the asphalt unit upgrade, asphalt storage tank, Crude Unit heater, oil tank refurbishment and naphtha hydrotreater heater.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's GMI Project and Plant databases can click here for a full list of detailed reports for projects mentioned in this article, and click here for a full list of related plant profiles.

Subscribers can click here for a full list of reports for active and planned projects across Jamaica.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) platform helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking more than 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 trillion (USD).