A MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INDUSTRY UNTAPPED BY JAMAICA... WE ARE RICHER THAN WE THINK.
Significant portions of Jamaica should be designated World Nature Reserve. Jamaica has one of the most extensive systems of underground rivers and caves in the world constituting perhaps some of the most delicate eco-systems with a bio-diversity yet to be discovered.
Nature has given Jamaica one of its greatest resources, the Cockpit Mountains; a mystical mountain range stretching from east to west was instrumental in protecting the runaway slaves, now has a potential value of over $600,000,000,000 (US$600 billion). From creating three different growing seasons for fruits year-round to having a surface area of more than twice the size of the island the rainwater harvesting potential is in excess of US$35 billion.
The Parish of Portland alone could supply some 500 billion gallons of freshwater annually captured in the upper Spanish River Valley to supply the Edward Seaga's Southern St. Catherine Reservoir pumped at a constant rate of some 2,100 cubic feet per second via the Rio Cobre River Gorge. To fully optimize the system a total of four hydroelectric dams could be developed along the 60 km or 37 miles from the upper reservoir to the lower dam at Caymanas Estate, generating some 380 MW using only 45 MW of solar pump storage supplemented with natural gas and wind energy.
It is financially feasible for Jamaica to build the US$1.7 billion megaprojects to ship some 500 billion gallons of water from the proposed Upper Spanish River Valley Reservoir to Kingston and beyond while generating some 380 MW hydroelectricity.
Think about it, if we invest and build infrastructures to support agriculture, energy and water resources management, we are indeed stimulating tourism investment but indirectly cause as we expand job creation and growth we would have reduced the crime rate and make people feel safer.
Think about it, if we invest and build infrastructures to support agriculture, energy and water resources management, we are indeed stimulating tourism investment but indirectly cause as we expand job creation and growth we would have reduced the crime rate and make people feel safer.
This could be facilitated by sourcing trade deals; a Multi-Billion trading agreement with the oil-rich and water-starved countries of the Middle East such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to exchange oil and gas for Jamaica's Blue Mountain Spring Water for pennies per liters from just 30% the Upper Spanish River Reservoir Capacity. With this deal, we could supply almost all of Latin America and the Caribbean with their oil and gas needs.
Why water is becoming the new oil
This is according to Craig Donohue, chief executive of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange at a Tokyo conference last week. And it's about time. Economic catastrophe, even wars, will be caused by water shortages. The problem is population growth, farming, resource extraction and heavy industrial use. Also waste: Homeowners in North America water their lawns with drinking water.
This is a big plus for Canada and the United States. Canada has 1% of the world's population and 20% of its water, which includes our half of the Great Lakes. The United States has parched growing areas like the Southwest and Midwest, but there is plenty of water in its northern tier. On international markets, water may fetch a hefty price and eventually justify the cost of water pipelines to the coast and water ships.
The commoditization of water has partially happened. "Designer" or bottled water is already more expensive than oil. And the creation of dozens of corn-ethanol refineries in the U.S. Midwest will strain water supplies, possibly forcing Great Lakes water southward. This is probably the reason behind the Chicago Mercantile's notion of water futures, to justify pipelines or canals.
This will make water a geopolitical issue. If Great Lakes water is shipped to irrigate the U.S. Midwest, will Canada get half its value? China has problems. The Yellow River no longer reaches the ocean. Saudi Arabia's giant oilfields need water and it is being shipped up from Africa at great expense. Australia and Southern California have droughts.
Here are some water factoids: - One pipeline carrying surplus fresh water from Manitoba to Texas could double provincial and municipal government revenues each year. It would cost up to US$9-billion to build a pipeline, estimated Paul Wihbey, of water consultant GWEST LLC of Washington, D.C., at a conference. "Annual revenue would be US$7-billion." - Bulk water exports will begin to take place from Manitoba, Newfoundland, Quebec and British Columbia in a handful of years, experts say. - Worldwide, 68% of all fresh water is contained in ice caps and glaciers, 30% ground water and 2% surface water. Surface water is the cheapest to harness or transport, and Canada has the world's biggest abundance. - About 9% of Canada's entire acreage is surface water, or roughly the size of British Columbia, including its half of the Great Lakes. - Quebec has 3% of the world's fresh water. - China has 20% of the world's population and 7% of its global water supply. - The Middle East has 5% of the world's population and 1% of its water.
--- - Read Diane Francis blog at http//financialpost.dianefrancis
No comments:
Post a Comment