The prime ministers of Jamaica and Trinidad are set to sign an accord in which Trinidad will supply Jamaica with liquefied natural gas at competitive prices.
Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and his Trinidadian counterpart, Patrick Manning, are expected to sign the agreement Saturday in Trinidad's capital, Port-of-Spain.
Prime Minister Patterson told Jamaicans in a televised address Thursday that the plan will help the country diversify its energy supply as it struggles with increased fuel consumption and rising prices. He said Jamaica must identify and use alternate sources of energy such as liquefied natural gas to reduce its heavy dependence on oil.
The Jamaican government says the agreement follows months of negotiations with officials in Trinidad.