There are a number of negotiations occurring at higher levels with companies that may be able to provide this country with energy produced via liquefied natural gas (LNG), Bahamas Power and Light's (BPL) Chief Executive Officer Shevonn Cambridge said on Tuesday, after being asked if negotiations with Shell Energy North America were still ongoing.

The former Free National Movement government began talks with Shell Energy North America in hopes of finalizing a power purchase agreement that would lead to BPL purchasing power from Shell. Shell was to also build an LNG storage facility and begin using the cleaner fuel to produce energy for New Providence.

Cambridge, who made his remarks while on radio talk show Morning Blend on Guardian Radio 96.9 FM, said the extent of BPL's relationship with Shell currently is that Shell West supplies fuel to FOCOL for BPL's engines.

The government has not stated publicly what negotiations are underway to get BPL to a state where it begins to use LNG as its primary fuel source. But, Cambridge contends those discussions are happening.

"There are a number of negotiations going on. But those are being dealt with at a higher level than at our level," said Cambridge.

He added: "There are some higher order discussions taking place with a number of entities around LNG and the possibilities associated with LNG."

Cambridge said LNG remains a priority for BPL, as the utility moves toward green energy in an effort to meet the commitment of 30 percent renewable energy by 2030.

BPL Chief Operations Officer Toni Seymour, who was also on Morning Blend, said the country's renewable penetration is less than five percent.

Cambridge stressed, however, that the country has made a commitment to becoming greener.

"And so LNG and the integration of renewables is a part of that plan," he said.

"But with LNG, it's going to require us to put in the facilities to land LNG and store LNG. And then it's also going to require us to ramp up our current generation plant to be able to burn LNG.

"So all of these, again, are investments. All of these are considered when you do your tariff study. And all of these are going to facilitate or manifest themselves as a slight increase in that base rate, but in the long term is going to bring your fuel costs down, and it's going to bring your overall bill down."

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