The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is considering reforms to its energy system, with Utilities Minister Melford Nicholas highlighting both environmental and economic benefits.

Speaking on Pointe FM alongside Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Nicholas pointed to Barbuda’s hybrid solar system as a model. Introduced after Hurricane Irma in 2017, the system powers the island by day with solar energy, reducing reliance on fuel-powered engines to the evenings.

Nicholas said the approach has cut fuel use on Barbuda by about 24%. Applying a similar system in Antigua, he added, could save the Antigua Public Utilities Authority millions in fuel costs and lower rates for consumers.

The minister stressed that shifting the energy mix would not only support the country’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2040 but also shield households from global fuel price shocks.

“There is an economic imperative,” Nicholas said. “Every time we burn fossil fuels, we are contributing to the same climate change problems we are trying to solve.”