ACS & CARILEC SIGN MOU     

…to work on improving regional electrical system resilience post-disaster

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

February 2nd, 2018

The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) and the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), committing to work toward improving regional resilience of electrical systems in light of the heightened risk of catastrophic weather events, as a result of climate change, as well as other potential hazards such as earthquakes.  

With the growing number and intensity of extreme weather events, Caribbean nations are faced with the challenge of promoting long-term development in the face of their vulnerability. This is evidenced by the need to mobilise linemen under the CARILEC Disaster Assistance Programme, subsequent to the passage of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. CARILEC coordinated the deployment of over one hundred and forty  (140) linemen, from fourteen (14) electric utilities across the Caribbean, to provide restoration assistance to damaged transmission and distribution infrastructure in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Dominica.

This timely partnership between these two organisations, seeks to assist in mitigating the adverse impacts of a changing climate. The MoU is structured to establish a framework for collaboration between the ACS and CARILEC, aimed at mainstreaming disaster risk and emergency management within the context of Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, as well as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, and their priorities for action.

The MoU will enable the two organisations to:

exchange experiences, lessons learned and best practices in disaster risk management and emergency response procedures within the context of increasing resilience in the wider Caribbean region;

strengthen capacities in electric utilities for mitigation, management and responding to disasters;

allow for efficient movement of utility personnel to perform damage response and restoration activities

raise awareness of CARILEC in the sub-regions of the ACS through information  sharing  related to exchange programmes, internships, study tours, conferences, seminars and horizontal cooperation programmes.

The Association of Caribbean States is an organisation for consultation, cooperation and concerted action. The ACS has 25 Member States, 9 Associate Members and serves over 250 million people in the Greater Caribbean.

The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) is an association of electric service providers, dealers, manufactures and other stakeholders operating in the electricity industry in the Caribbean region and globally. CARILEC has 106 members, 34 of which are electric utilities and power producers, 66 Associate and 6 affiliate members.