JPS engineers worked through the night to restore power after an unprecedented blackout plunged the entire island into darkness. Share Jamaica was plunged into darkness on Friday night after a major system failure within the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) network triggered a rare island‑wide blackout, cutting electricity to homes, businesses and essential services across all 14 parishes. The outage, which began shortly after 8pm, spread rapidly across the national grid and exposed once again the fragility of the country’s energy infrastructure. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed the nationwide collapse, calling it “unacceptable” and ordering a full investigation into what went wrong. J PS said the failure originated deep within the system and activated emergency protocols as engineers worked through the night to stabilise the grid. A phased restoration began with the careful restart of generating units to avoid further instability. While the exact cau...
Fresh offshore research suggests Jamaica may be closer than ever to uncovering untapped oil and gas resources, according to UK-based exploration firm United Oil and Gas. The company says new data points to the possible existence of an active petroleum system beneath the seabed, following a recent survey in the Walton-Morant Block off the island’s south coast. While not yet a confirmed discovery, the findings have renewed interest in Jamaica’s long-speculated hydrocarbon potential.
The Walton-Morant Block, a vast offshore area, contains two key sedimentary basins believed to be favourable for oil and gas formation. Over a 34-day survey period, researchers collected extensive seabed data using advanced mapping technology. Core samples taken from multiple locations across the area revealed traces of hydrocarbons, including butanes and pentanes—substances commonly associated with petroleum systems and potential fuel sources.
Oil could inject significant new revenue into Jamaica’s economy, strengthening public finances, reducing debt pressure, and creating fiscal space for infrastructure investment and social programmes—while still raising questions about long‑term stability and responsible management.Image credit: RevoNews
Further scientific modelling has strengthened the case, indicating the likely presence of oil-mature source rocks within the block. According to United Oil and Gas, these early indicators will now be integrated into broader geological assessments as the company refines its understanding of the area. The data will also inform ongoing discussions with potential partners as it weighs the next critical step—whether to proceed with exploratory drilling.
Chief Executive Brian Larkin said the results mark a significant milestone, offering valuable insight into the licence and helping to guide future decisions. His comments underscore cautious optimism within the company, as it balances scientific promise with the financial and operational realities of offshore exploration.
The development comes at a time of heightened global energy uncertainty, with tensions linked to the Iran conflict continuing to influence oil markets. For Jamaica, which relies heavily on imported fuel, even the prospect of domestic production could have far-reaching economic implications. However, any potential path forward will need to weigh economic gains against environmental concerns and the country’s broader commitment to sustainable energy.
