The National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) has taken a significant step towards energy modernisation with the completion of a major upgrade and expansion of the national natural gas grid, bringing service to more consumers in previously unconnected communities islandwide, Minister of Energy and Business Senator Lisa Cummins has revealed.
She announced that the capital mains replacement and expansion programme has been completed, upgrading the 60-year-old pipeline infrastructure.
The project, executed in two phases by two Barbadian contractors, primarily targeted the southern and central districts.
Senator Cummins stressed the importance of replacing ageing infrastructure, comparing it to ongoing efforts to upgrade the country’s water distribution system.
“Just as we’ve discussed the ageing water pipes, the same applies to our natural gas network,” she told Parliament on Wednesday. “That is why this expansion was necessary.”
Using geographic information systems (GIS) technology, the government has mapped the natural gas grid from St Lucy to St Philip and from St Joseph and St Andrew to St Michael, further identifying more expansion opportunities, she said.
As a result, according to the minister, natural gas has now reached communities such as My Lord’s Hill, St Michael and districts in St Philip near the Wyndham hotel resort.
Senator Cummins also noted that expansion along main roads has created opportunities for nearby residents and businesses to connect to the network.
National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) official Ian Bradshaw said the demand for natural gas remains strong, and while expansion costs have risen in recent years, NPC has remained focused on fortifying existing infrastructure.
He credited funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) for allowing the agency to replace over 10.4 kilometres of pipelines, improving system reliability and paving the way for future growth.
NPC has already completed work in areas in St Philip, with ongoing projects in other parishes like St Andrew.
Further addressing concerns about satellite stations—which Minister Cummins said were established under previous administrations that failed to integrate nearby communities into the natural gas grid—she added: “That’s not our approach. If we have an expansion programme, we will ensure that surrounding communities have access to the natural gas grid.” (SM)
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