Carib Scope

分类： business

  • Lokale productie versterkt voedselzekerheid binnenland

    Lokale productie versterkt voedselzekerheid binnenland

    Against a backdrop of rising global food prices and growing economic risks tied to import dependency, Suriname has taken a concrete step to strengthen domestic agricultural production and shore up national food security, launching a three-day introductory poultry farming training program for rural residents in the country’s interior.

    The initiative, which ran from May 4 to 6 in the Langu area of Boven-Suriname, was officially opened last week by Suriname’s President Jennifer Simons. During the opening ceremony, President Simons emphasized the critical roles that local production expansion, community self-sufficiency and improved food security play in driving sustainable development across Suriname’s inland regions.

    Organized by Suriname’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), the beginner training forms part of a national series of poultry development programs rolled out by the ministry. The overarching goal of these initiatives is to grow domestic food output and embed sustainable poultry farming practices within rural local communities. A total of 35 local villagers participated in this first held session, receiving hands-on, guided instruction across all core components of small-scale poultry production.

    Over the three-day course, trainees covered a range of essential topics designed to build practical foundational skills, including poultry housing design and management, balanced feeding practices, routine animal care, basic poultry anatomy, and simple farm record-keeping. Theoretical instruction was led by expert trainers from the LVV’s Directorate of Livestock. To ensure all participants could fully access the course content regardless of language barriers, a designated local villager served as an interpreter to clarify complex technical concepts and industry terminology.

    This training program underscores the ministry’s commitment to expanding knowledge transfer and building capacity within Suriname’s agricultural sector. LVV officials stress that accelerating the growth of the domestic livestock sector is no longer an optional policy goal for the country—it is an urgent necessity. In the current global landscape marked by volatile food prices and the inherent risks of overreliance on imported food goods, strategic investment in local production capacity has become a priority for Suriname’s economic and food stability. Through targeted support, adoption of innovative practices, and widespread knowledge sharing, the ministry aims to empower local poultry producers to operate more efficiently, sustainably, and profitably.

    The training concluded with a celebratory closing ceremony. As a gesture of appreciation for the ministry and training team, participating villagers performed a traditional local Seketi dance for attendees and instructors on the final day. LVV has publicly expressed gratitude to all participants, trainers, and local community partners who contributed to the successful execution of the program, and reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to advancing the development of Suriname’s broader agriculture and livestock sectors.

  • Basic Items Cost More Than You Think, Depending on the Store

    Basic Items Cost More Than You Think, Depending on the Store

    As persistent grocery inflation pushes household budgets tighter across Belize, consumers are shifting from simple spending cuts to targeted strategic shopping to offset rising costs. A new on-the-ground investigation from News Five’s Paul Lopez set out to answer a critical question that many budget-conscious shoppers overlook: does the choice of where you buy groceries make a meaningful difference to total monthly spending, even when buying the exact same products? To test this, Lopez visited five separate grocery outlets across Dangriga Town, comparing prices for 10 widely used everyday household and grocery items to measure just how large price discrepancies can be. What the investigation uncovered confirms that those differences are far from negligible – and over time, they can add up to hundreds of dollars in extra annual spending for average families.

    Lopez launched the hands-on comparison equipped with a standardized list of common staples, ranging from cleaning supplies to pantry items and baby care products. The full list included Axion dishwashing liquid (400ml bottle), Suavitel laundry detergent (1.9-liter bottle), Fab soap powder, garbage bags, Dak chopped ham, Mazatun canned tuna, aluminum foil, kitchen towel, Heinz baked beans, and double extra-large Huggies diapers. The price variations started emerging immediately with the first product tested.

    For the standard 400ml Axion dishwashing liquid, Family City Imports offered the lowest price at $2.50 per bottle. Neighboring Huang Chen Supermarket and smaller local outlet J Mart both priced the same bottle at $2.95, a 45-cent increase from the lowest option. The Price is Right Supermarket came in at $2.75, while New Hong Store charged the highest rate at $3.50 – a full dollar more than the lowest available price for the identical product.

    When it came to small tins of Dak chopped ham, Huang Chen and J Mart tied for the highest price at $4.50, while New Hong Store surprisingly offered the lowest rate at $4.25, a 25-cent difference. The investigation also found one consistent outlier: Mazatun brand canned tuna held a steady price of $2.75 across all five stores surveyed.

    For 1.9-liter bottles of Suavitel laundry detergent, available at four of the five locations, Huang Chen again posted the highest price at $7.50, with Family City Imports close behind at $7.25. J Mart offered the same bottle for $6.75, marking a 75-cent discount compared to Huang Chen and a 50-cent saving versus Family City.

    The gap grew even wider for a can of Heinz baked beans: New Hong Store charged the highest price at $4.50, while J Mart offered the same can for $3.75 – a 75-cent difference that puts New Hong’s price 20% higher for the identical product. All other surveyed stores landed below the $4.00 mark for this item. For a box of Fans Corn Flakes, Family City Imports priced it at $6.75, while New Hong Store sold the same box for $6.25. For a pack of double XL Huggies diapers, Family City charged $23.75, while The Price is Right sold the identical pack for $22.50, a $1.25 saving.

    The investigation’s core takeaway is clear: while a small number of branded products maintain consistent pricing across retail outlets, most everyday staples see significant price variation from store to store in Dangriga. For households working with tight budgets that require stretching every dollar, these small per-item differences add up to substantial total savings over a full grocery run. By strategically choosing which retailer to visit for different items, local families can cut their monthly grocery costs without changing the products they buy.

  • Dredging of Demerara River begins in June

    Dredging of Demerara River begins in June

    Guyana is set to launch a critical infrastructure upgrade for its key maritime trade route next month, after officials signed an $11.2 million contract with regional dredging firm Boskalis CPG Inc. this Tuesday.

    The project, first announced by Public Utilities and Aviation Minister Deodat Indar, will target a 9-kilometer stretch of the Demerara River’s navigational channel running between the communities of Houston and Golden Grove. Over a two-month construction period, crews will widen the channel to 100 meters and deepen it to 5 meters, addressing longstanding navigation challenges that have limited access for larger commercial vessels.

    The official contract signing ceremony was held this week, with MARAD Director-General Stephen Fraser putting pen to paper on behalf of Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), which falls under Indar’s ministry. Senior government officials including Permanent Secretary Vishal Ambedkar, alongside leadership from both MARAD and Boskalis CPG, were in attendance to witness the milestone agreement.

    In an official statement following the signing, the ministry outlined the far-reaching benefits the completed dredging work will deliver for Guyana’s economy. Once finished, deeper, wider waters will allow larger cargo vessels to access the Demerara channel safely and reliably, cutting wait times for shipping and boosting overall port efficiency. The upgrade is also expected to support the consistent, sustainable movement of domestic and international goods and services, strengthening the country’s entire maritime sector.

    Minister Indar emphasized that the project comes directly in response to feedback from Guyana’s shipping industry, which has repeatedly called for additional dredging work to unlock the Demerara River’s full trade potential after years of increasing commercial activity along the waterway. Construction is scheduled to kick off in June 2026, with completion targeted for the end of the third quarter of the year.

  • New BTMI board appointed amid tourism growth push

    New BTMI board appointed amid tourism growth push

    The Caribbean island nation of Barbados has announced a major leadership reshuffle at its national tourism authority, tapping seasoned business executive Peter Harris to take the helm of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) as the country works to bolster its competitive position in the fast-shifting global travel landscape. Harris will succeed outgoing chair Shelly Williams, with industry veteran Gayle Talma stepping into the newly vacant role of deputy chair for the two-year appointment term.

    The changes were made public Tuesday in an official statement released by Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, who framed the board restructuring as a strategic move to assemble a cross-functional team with the diverse skill set required to navigate modern tourism industry challenges. In addition to the top two leadership appointments, the refreshed 13-member board includes a roster of seasoned professionals from across the sector: Sheldene Matthews-Mottley, Andrea Brome, Carol Roberts-Reifer, Ronnie Carrington, Jo-ann Roett, Patricia Affonso-Dass, Kevyn Yearwood, Nicholas Parker, Paul Collymore, Senator Ryan Forde, Cicely Callender, and Francine Blackman, who serves as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport.

    Gooding-Edghill emphasized that the new board’s core mandate centers on rolling out Barbados’ updated tourism marketing framework, building consistent global brand recognition for the island as a top travel destination, and delivering steady year-over-year growth in international visitor arrivals. The minister stressed that urgent, focused work is needed to speed up the implementation of the island’s long-term tourism growth strategy, particularly against a backdrop of ongoing global geopolitical volatility that creates uncertainty for international travel flows.

    Barbados’ tourism sector has posted solid, resilient performance in recent years, but Gooding-Edghill noted that ongoing proactive planning is critical to prepare for unforeseen external shifts that could disrupt the industry. As the backbone of the country’s economy and social fabric, tourism revenue drives critical public services and livelihoods across the island, making sustained growth a top national priority, he added. Beyond brand building and visitor growth, the board will oversee two key strategic pillars that are central to the government’s expansion plans: the continued expansion of the island’s airlift access initiative, and targeted efforts to grow visitor numbers from high-potential emerging markets, alongside the island’s established traditional source markets.

    “Our successful airlift strategy will continue to be one of the key pillars central to our tourism growth strategy, along with our further stimulation of emerging markets to add to our existing source markets, to generate increased arrivals to Barbados,” Gooding-Edghill said in the statement. He closed by extending official gratitude to outgoing chair Shelly Williams, recognizing her contributions to Barbados’ tourism development during her tenure leading the BTMI board.

  • Brian Murphy Appointed Incoming Chairman of the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association

    Brian Murphy Appointed Incoming Chairman of the Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association

    The Antigua & Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association (ABHTA) has announced the appointment of Brian Murphy as its incoming chairman, a move that industry insiders say signals a new chapter of strategic growth for the Caribbean nation’s critical tourism sector.

    Murphy, a longstanding figure in the region’s hospitality industry with decades of experience in hotel management and destination development, will step into the top leadership role of the association, which represents hundreds of accommodation providers, tourism service businesses and industry stakeholders across the twin-island nation.

    Tourism is the backbone of Antigua & Barbuda’s national economy, contributing more than 60% of the country’s gross domestic product and employing nearly half of the local workforce. Following the sharp industry-wide downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the association has prioritized rebuilding visitor confidence, expanding market reach, and advancing sustainable tourism practices to secure long-term resilience for the sector.

    Industry observers note that Murphy’s track record of collaborative leadership and deep understanding of both local operational challenges and global tourism trends positions him well to guide the association through its next set of priorities. These key initiatives include supporting small and medium-sized hospitality businesses, upskilling local tourism workforce, and promoting the islands’ brand as a premium, eco-conscious Caribbean travel destination in competitive global markets.

    The handover of the chairman role is scheduled to take place at the ABHTA’s annual general meeting in the coming months, where outgoing leadership will deliver their final report on the association’s recent achievements and outline ongoing priorities for the incoming leadership team.

  • OECS Root and Tuber Crop Symposium in Dominica sets course to restore regional food sovereignty

    OECS Root and Tuber Crop Symposium in Dominica sets course to restore regional food sovereignty

    Against a backdrop of intensifying climate change impacts and persistent global supply chain volatility, regional governing bodies in the Eastern Caribbean are turning to a long-neglected local food source — native root and tuber crops, commonly referred to as “ground provisions” — to build long-term food sovereignty and economic self-reliance across the bloc.

    Leading this landmark regional intervention are the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission and the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, which formally launched the coordinated initiative at the OECS Root and Tuber Crop Symposium held May 7–8, 2026, at the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa. The two-day gathering brought together senior government officials, smallholder farmers, agricultural researchers and technical specialists to align the new root crop strategy with the OECS’s broader Food and Agriculture Systems Transformation (FAST) Strategy, an official OECS press release confirmed. Financial backing for the program is provided by the European Union through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), delivered under the Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonisation and Technology (RIGHT) initiative.

    The effort comes amid a critical food security crisis across the Eastern Caribbean, where many member states rely on imports for as much as 90% of their domestic food consumption. This extreme import dependence has magnified economic vulnerability amid global supply shocks and pushed regional leaders to accelerate progress toward the CARICOM “25 by 2025 + 5” target, which aims to cut regional food imports by 25% through expanded local production.

    Speaking on behalf of Dominica Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, Hon. Dr. Irving McIntyre, the island’s Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience and Social Security, opened the symposium by framing food system resilience as the foundation of national stability. “The Government of Dominica has consistently emphasized the importance of resilience as a central pillar of national development,” Dr. McIntyre told attendees. “That vision of resilience extends directly to agriculture, because no country can truly claim resilience while remaining heavily dependent on imported food and vulnerable supply chains.” He also paid tribute to regional farmers, who have sustained local communities through mounting environmental and economic headwinds.

    OECS Director General Dr. Didacus Jules positioned the root crop initiative as a return to the core regional principles of sustainability and self-determination, arguing that food sovereignty is inextricably linked to national dignity and collective security. “If we cannot feed ourselves, we are not truly secure,” Dr. Jules cautioned. He celebrated the natural resilience of crops including cassava, dasheen, and sweet potato, noting that these hardy staples grow steadily beneath the soil, drawing nutrients from the earth and withstanding extreme wind and drought conditions far better than many imported commodity crops. “The region’s long-term strength will come from strengthening what is locally produced and deeply rooted, rather than continued dependence on imported food systems,” he added.

    The urgent need for a shift to climate-resilient local agriculture was underscored by a recent climate disaster in Dominica: just days before the symposium, severe flooding and landslides on the island’s east coast destroyed extensive crops and damaged critical agricultural infrastructure. Dominica’s Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy, Hon. Roland Royer, used the recent event to argue for urgent modernization of the regional agricultural sector. “Agriculture today must be understood as business, innovation, food security and national resilience all working together,” Minister Royer asserted. “If agriculture in the OECS is to survive and grow, then it must become more resilient, more sustainable and more adaptable to the realities of a changing climate.”

    Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education Hon. Fenella Wenham-Sheppard expanded on this vision, highlighting both the intergenerational cultural significance and untapped economic potential of traditional root and tuber crops. She noted that these crops have carried Caribbean communities through past crises, and now hold major promise as a driver of inclusive economic growth. “Root crops must not only feed us fresh from the soil, they must become higher value products that create jobs, expand exports, and empower entrepreneurs,” she said. Wenham-Sheppard outlined opportunities to transform basic staple crops into high-value processed goods including gluten-free flour, natural purees, and craft beverages, opening new regional and international market opportunities for local producers.

    The symposium concluded with a series of concrete actionable outcomes to guide the sector’s long-term development. Key next steps include launching a dedicated OECS Food Production Technical Working Group to coordinate policy and implementation across member states, and developing a comprehensive OECS Root and Tuber Crop Roadmap to outline shared targets and timelines. Member states also reached a consensus to prioritize public and private investment in modern agricultural infrastructure, including solar-powered cold storage facilities and climate-smart irrigation hubs. The upgrades are designed to reduce post-harvest waste, improve producer competitiveness, and attract a new generation of young farmers to the Eastern Caribbean’s agricultural sector.

  • HIGHWAY CASH MACHINE

    HIGHWAY CASH MACHINE

    TransJamaican Highway Limited (TJH), Jamaica’s leading toll road operator, has delivered a stunning 46% year-over-year surge in first-quarter net profit, fueled by higher overall traffic volumes and outperformance from its newly launched May Pen-to-Williamsfield highway extension. For the three-month period ending March 31, the firm reported net income of $13.2 million, up sharply from $9.1 million logged in the same quarter last year. Total quarterly revenues also climbed 29% annually to hit $29 million, marking one of the company’s strongest quarterly growth stretches in recent years.

    The new 1C extension of Jamaica’s Highway 2000, which connects the parishes of Clarendon and Manchester via the May Pen-to-Williamsfield corridor, entered full commercial operation in late December 2025. In its first full quarter of service, the leg contributed $3.5 million in total revenue, equal to roughly 12% of the company’s total group revenue for the quarter. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday, TJH Chief Executive Officer Ivan Anderson explained that the new corridor has exceeded all internal revenue projections, driven by higher-than-expected adoption among motorists.

    “What we have seen is that most people now utilise the full length of the roadway from May Pen to Williamsfield,” Anderson said. “We’re seeing a little different mix in terms of traffic — more long-haul and less short-haul traffic — which has boosted the revenues as well.”

    The solid quarterly results underscore the inherent strength of TJH’s toll road operating model, where fixed infrastructure costs mean that incremental revenue growth from new traffic translates directly to disproportionate gains in bottom-line profit. Beyond the new corridor lift, the company’s ongoing strategy of debt reduction also supported the sharp rise in profitability. While total revenues grew 29% year-over-year, TJH’s finance costs continued a steady decline as the firm paid down outstanding borrowings and redeemed outstanding preference shares.

    For the quarter, pre-tax earnings rose to $16.8 million, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) climbed 31% annually to $23.7 million. Total borrowings fell to $182 million at the end of March, down from $192 million at the same point last year, continuing the company’s multi-year trend of deleveraging its balance sheet.

    Aligning with its commitments to investors made during its initial public offering, TJH declared a $13 million dividend during the quarter that was paid out to shareholders in April. Anderson noted the company has stayed true to its promise of distributing nearly all excess cash to shareholders after accounting for planned maintenance, infrastructure upgrades and debt repayment obligations.

    “We gave some commitments when we went to the IPO, which was that we would distribute almost all the cash we had except for what we needed for routine maintenance, major renewals, and paying down our debt,” Anderson said. “As our profits grow, we continue to pay out more in terms of dividends.”

    Even with the strong contribution from the new extension, Anderson emphasized that TJH’s core earnings still come from the broader Highway 2000 network that spans from Kingston through Clarendon. “Phase 1C is not a significant portion of our revenues,” he said. “But obviously, because our costs are fixed, the additional revenues tend to flow to our bottom line.”

    Looking ahead, TJH is actively positioning itself to bid for upcoming toll road operation concessions across Jamaica, starting with the Montego Bay perimeter road that is currently being developed by the Jamaican government. Anderson noted that the company expects the completed project will be opened to competitive bidding for experienced toll road operators, though he confirmed TJH holds no exclusive rights or first refusal option on the asset.

    “We expect that once it is completed, it may be offered to the entities who can operate toll roads in Jamaica to provide a bid,” Anderson said.

    The company is also monitoring additional proposed highway expansion projects connected to Jamaica’s North-South Highway, including planned new corridors linking to Discovery Bay and White River that Prime Minister Andrew Holness has publicly discussed. “We are very interested in those as well,” Anderson said. “Should they become opportunities, then obviously we’ll look at those in terms of trying to take advantage of those as well.”

    Currently, TJH holds a 35-year concession to operate Highway 2000 East-West, with an option to extend the agreement for an additional 35 years, which would extend the operating rights through 2071.

  • Storms spark parametric push

    Storms spark parametric push

    For years, parametric insurance flew under the radar of most Jamaican businesses and insurance brokers. But a string of destructive back-to-back hurricanes in 2024 and 2025 have shifted market attitudes, pushing local brokerage firm Fraser Fontaine & Kong Ltd (FFK) to aggressively expand access to this alternative weather risk coverage, company leaders announced at the recent Jamaica Observer Business Forum.

    FFK’s president and chairman Gerard Fontaine noted that the firm has researched parametric insurance models for more than a decade, moving forward with a tailored local offering only after addressing widespread past dissatisfaction with early iterations of the product. After years of studying successful international implementations and collaborating with risk modeling specialists, the company has designed a version of parametric coverage adapted to the unique needs of Jamaican businesses.

    The urgent push for broader adoption comes in the wake of Hurricanes Beryl in 2024 and Melissa in 2025, which laid bare critical gaps in traditional property insurance that left many local businesses grappling with extended financial strain. Executive Director Martine Fontaine explained that the core difference between the two coverage models lies in how claim payouts are triggered. For traditional insurance, payouts are only issued after lengthy on-site physical damage assessments, adjuster investigations, and forensic reviews. In contrast, parametric insurance pays out as soon as a pre-agreed weather threshold — such as hurricane wind speed or earthquake magnitude — is met, eliminating the need for time-consuming damage inspections.

    Martine shared a firsthand example from Hurricane Melissa, where the trigger condition was satisfied at 8:00 a.m. By 3:00 p.m. the same day, FFK had issued payout declarations to eligible clients, and funds were already wired to clients’ bank accounts by the following Monday. This rapid disbursement addresses one of the most common pain points of traditional insurance, where businesses often wait weeks or even months for payout while already facing post-disaster financial pressure.

    Another critical gap parametric coverage fills is “loss of market” scenarios that are rarely covered by traditional policies. For example, Jamaican hotels frequently lose millions in revenue from booking cancellations and plummeting visitor arrivals after major storms, even if their properties sustain little to no direct physical damage. Because traditional insurance requires proof of physical damage to process a claim, these indirect revenue losses are almost never recoverable. Parametric insurance also covers costs that conventional policies often exclude, including hurricane preparation expenses, forced operational shutdowns, and post-storm business interruptions. Beyond speed and expanded coverage, the simplified claims process is another major advantage: after a trigger event, clients only need to submit a one-page declaration confirming they have experienced financial loss, rather than navigating a complex maze of adjusters, deductibles, and underinsurance disputes that often leave clients feeling the traditional system is designed to deny claims.

    FFK’s custom parametric programs can be tailored to a wide range of local stakeholders, including smallholder farmers, large hotel operators, and any other property owner facing weather-related financial risk. Coverage can extend to tangible recovery costs such as re-landscaping, roof repairs, equipment replacement, and business restart expenses. Company leaders emphasized that almost any asset or revenue stream at risk of weather-related loss can be covered by a customized parametric plan.

    Despite these benefits, FFK executives caution that parametric insurance is not intended to replace traditional property coverage. Payout caps for parametric policies mean they may not fully cover extreme losses from major catastrophic events, so businesses should integrate parametric coverage into a broader, diversified risk management strategy. While consumer inquiries and coverage discussions have risen sharply since the 2024 hurricane season, the product still remains relatively unknown to most businesses in Jamaica’s local market.

  • St. Kitts and Nevis to launch 1st home porting cruise in Nov 2027, PM Drew confirms – WIC News

    St. Kitts and Nevis to launch 1st home porting cruise in Nov 2027, PM Drew confirms – WIC News

    The Caribbean federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is poised to claim a transformative new position in the regional cruise tourism industry, with Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew officially confirming the launch of the nation’s first-ever home porting cruise set for November 7, 2027. In a public announcement shared via official government social media channels, Drew revealed that he and his family will be onboard the inaugural voyage departing from Basseterre’s Port Zante, framing the project as a landmark turning point for the country’s tourism landscape and broader economic development.

    Unlike the traditional cruise stop model, where vessels only dock for a few hours and passengers leave limited economic impact on the destination, home porting operates as a game-changing structure: cruise itineraries begin and end at the host port. This model typically encourages travelers to arrive one or more days ahead of their departure date, or extend their vacation after the cruise concludes, translating to far greater spending across nearly every sector of the local tourism economy. Hotels, local restaurants, transportation providers, retail shops, independent tour operators and local attraction operators all stand to benefit from the extended visitor stays associated with home porting.

    The inaugural 2027 program will feature sailings on two of P&O Cruises’ flagship vessels, the Arvia and the Iona. The itineraries will connect St. Kitts and Nevis to 10 other popular Caribbean destinations, including Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Curacao, Tortola, Saint Martin, Castries (St. Lucia), Bridgetown (Barbados), and Fort-de-France (Martinique).

    To accommodate the new operational demands of home porting, Port Zante will undergo major infrastructure upgrades centered on building a modernized cruise terminal. The upgraded facility will be engineered to handle higher passenger volumes and meet the expanded operational requirements that come with serving as a home port.

    Prime Minister Drew emphasized that the initiative delivers far more than just incremental growth to the country’s tourism sector. “This is tourism growth. This is economic transformation. This means hundreds of new jobs and opportunities for our people,” he stated. He also credited Minister Marsha T. Henderson and her entire ministry team for their persistent behind-the-scenes work and strong leadership that brought the project to fruition, noting that the initiative would not have become a reality without their sustained effort.

    Government and tourism officials project that home porting will act as a long-term economic driver for the federation, strengthening its competitive standing in the $35 billion Caribbean cruise industry while advancing the country’s ongoing tourism diversification strategy. The project is expected to generate sustained employment growth, lift overall visitor expenditure, and cement St. Kitts and Nevis’ status as a premier cruise departure and destination hub in the Eastern Caribbean.

  • What is the thermal conversion process for improving Cuban crude oil?

    What is the thermal conversion process for improving Cuban crude oil?

    Against the backdrop of a tightened economic blockade that has squeezed Cuba’s fuel supplies to critical levels, a homegrown technological breakthrough developed by local petroleum researchers is offering new momentum for the island nation to capitalize on its own natural resources and advance toward long-term energy sovereignty.

    The innovation, crafted by a team of scientists at Cuba’s Center for Petroleum Research (Ceinpet), centers on a thermal conversion process tailored to address the unique challenges posed by the country’s most abundant crude oil resource: heavy crude extracted from northern Cuban oil fields. To break down the impact of this new development, Cuban state newspaper *Granma* sat down for an exclusive interview with Rafael López Cordero, senior researcher and management advisor at Ceinpet, who walked through the process, its potential benefits, and its roadmap for scaling.

    López Cordero explained that Cuba produces a range of crude oil grades, from light to extra-heavy, but more than 70% of the country’s domestic output comes from northern deposits of heavy crude. This variant is defined by extremely high concentrations of asphaltene compounds, which create the crude’s signature high density and viscosity, paired with elevated sulfur levels. This chemical makeup creates cascading challenges across every stage of the oil supply chain, from initial extraction all the way to refining and end use.

    “These asphaltenes complicate not just refining, but also transportation, pumping, and even extraction,” López Cordero noted. When heavy crude is pulled from wells, it arrives mixed with water, requiring specialized surfactants to separate the emulsions and recover usable crude. Its extreme viscosity also makes it impossible to pump through existing pipeline infrastructure without first diluting it with solvent products to lower its thickness. Currently, these solvents come from two sources: a portion of distillate fractions produced by the Sergio Soto Refinery in Cabaiguán, which processes domestic crude, and heavy naphtha generated from processing imported crude oil – a feedstock that could otherwise be used to produce gasoline for domestic consumption.

    This is where the new thermal conversion process delivers transformative change. López Cordero was careful to clarify that thermal conversion is an upgrading process, not a full refining step. While refining produces finished fuel products that meet market quality standards – from liquefied petroleum gas and gasoline to jet fuel, diesel, and asphalt – thermal conversion targets the physical properties of heavy crude to make it far more usable and valuable.

    By reducing the crude’s viscosity enough to eliminate the need for solvent dilution, the process frees up all the naphtha previously used for this purpose to be redirected toward gasoline production, directly boosting the country’s available fuel supply. It also delivers secondary benefits: a modest reduction in sulfur content cuts the fuel’s environmental impact, and the upgraded crude’s improved combustion properties reduce wear on power plant equipment, extending their operational lifespans and cutting maintenance resource needs.

    In its current non-catalytic form, the process upgrades crude for more efficient transportation and combustion without directly producing finished fuel derivatives that meet all national quality standards, but its operational benefits are already significant. The technology is now in the pilot scaling phase at the Sergio Soto Refinery, a location selected for its unique advantages for testing.

    “Sergio Soto already processes domestic heavy crude, has all the auxiliary infrastructure we need – steam, treated water, power – and a trained staff with years of experience handling heavy crude,” López Cordero said. “We don’t have to build from scratch; we can integrate our pilot plant into the existing operational system, and the crude is already stored on site, so no extra transportation is required.”

    Contrary to common misconception, the pilot plant is not intended for mass commercial production of upgraded crude. Its core mission is to collect critical engineering data: researchers will test different temperature ranges, crude emulsion injection rates, and other operational variables to map how these factors impact final product quality. Once these core parameters are finalized, the team will design modular, scalable units that can be deployed directly at wellheads across northern oil fields, bringing the upgrading process directly to the source of extraction.

    The research line behind thermal conversion has been underway at Ceinpet for several years, and was paused for a period due to a range of resource and operational constraints. But the intensification of the U.S. blockade, which has worsened shortages of imported solvents and naphtha, created new urgency to advance the homegrown solution, pushing the team to leverage domestic expertise and local resources to bring the project across the finishing line.

    While the technology is still in early scaling and will not resolve all of Cuba’s immediate energy challenges overnight, López Cordero emphasized that it represents a meaningful, firm step forward for the country. By enabling Cuba to maximize the value of its own domestic natural resources, the breakthrough moves the nation one critical step closer to the long-held goal of full energy sovereignty.

    Ceinpet has been investigating thermal conversion technology for several years, and the project’s progress amid ongoing economic pressure highlights the role of domestic scientific innovation in building resilience for the island nation.