Jamaica nears oil drilling decision as tests identify hydrocarbons

The Story

Jamaica is closer than ever to drilling for oil after tests on seabed samples off its south coast identified hydrocarbons. The government expressed cautious optimism, while environmental groups and treaty obligations raise concerns about climate and ecosystem impacts.

Key Facts

• Tests on samples from the seabed off Jamaica’s south coast earlier this year identified hydrocarbons, suggesting crude oil below ground.
• Jamaica imports all its fuel at an annual cost of $1.5-2bn (£1.1bn-1.5bn), depending on global oil prices.
• United Oil & Gas, a UK-based company, holds an exclusive exploration licence for the Walton-Morant basin, a 22,400sq km block off the southern coast.
• Energy Minister Daryl Vaz called the results “very positive” and said he is “cautiously optimistic and praying very hard”.
• If oil is confirmed, Jamaica would join Guyana and Suriname as the newest fossil fuel-producing states in the region.
• About half of the countries across Latin America and the Caribbean are racing to find oil after Brazil discovered deep-water reserves in the 2000s.
• Jamaica ratified the Paris agreement in 2017 and in 2024 called on other states to negotiate a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.
• Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, head of the Jamaica Environment Trust, called considering oil drilling a “big contradiction” given the harshest effects of the climate crisis, including Hurricane Melissa.
• The Walton-Morant basin is near protected areas such as Portland Bight and Black River wetlands, which campaigners fear would be vulnerable to an oil spill.
• Jamaica is a signatory to the Escazú agreement, which requires transparent public consultation on development decisions, but implementation gaps exist, said Nicole Leotaud of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute.
• Renewable energy sources account for about 13% of electricity generation; Jamaica has a target of 50% by 2030, which requires significant investment.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

The article does not specify when a drill decision might be made or the exact volume of potential oil. It also does not clarify how Jamaica will balance its climate pledges with possible oil revenue.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s energy minister
• Radhika Bansal, vice-president of Latin American oil and gas research at Rystad Energy
• Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, head of the Jamaica Environment Trust
• Nicole Leotaud, director of the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute
• Courtney Lindsay, expert on the Caribbean at ODI Global

Sources: The Guardian