Sustainability

Energy is crucial to economic development. Energy prices in the Caribbean are amongst the highest in the world, having a crippling effect on industry, businesses and households of the region. The energy economies of the Caribbean have particularities which make the Caribbean energy situation unique: high dependence on imported oil resources, relatively small markets, largely centralised energy production and distribution, outdated energy generation equipment and significant electricity theft in some countries, and a relative abundance of renewable energy resources. The Energy thematic area explores the particularities and difficulties faced by Caribbean energy economies and challenge the status quo with a view to achieving a viable energy sector in support of economic advancement.