Green dispels speculation over new ministry’s role in oil exploration

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Mining and Geology Floyd Green has dismissed speculation that the newly established Ministry of Mining and Geology will take charge of Jamaica’s offshore oil exploration programme, confirming that the responsibility will remain with the Ministry of Energy. Green made the clarification during Wednesday’s post-Cabinet press briefing, responding to questions about whether his new portfolio would spearhead efforts to determine whether commercially viable petroleum deposits exist in Jamaican waters. His response makes clear that the creation of the new ministry will not result in a transfer of responsibility for the country’s search for oil, which remains under the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, headed by Minister Daryl Vaz. The question arose amid growing public interest in Jamaica’s offshore petroleum prospects, particularly following recent scientific findings indicating possible hydrocarbon activity in the Walton-Morant Basin. Jamaica has been exploring the possibility of commercially viable oil deposits offshore, with previous surveys identifying encouraging signs of petroleum activity. However, those findings have not confirmed the existence of recoverable oil in commercially viable quantities. United Oil and Gas, which holds the exploration rights for the Walton-Morant Basin, has been conducting work to assess the area’s petroleum potential. The company has reported traces of hydrocarbons in samples collected during a geochemical survey, findings which have been described by the Government as positive indicators of a possible active petroleum system. The next major step towards establishing whether oil is present in commercially viable quantities would be exploratory drilling, which would require significant investment and the necessary regulatory approvals. The new Ministry of Mining and Geology, meanwhile, will focus on Jamaica’s mineral resources and the development of the mining sector. Its responsibilities include strengthening geological research, improving the management of mineral resources and identifying opportunities to increase the value derived from the country’s natural resources.