IDB Invest reviews loan facility for JPS

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Invest — the private sector arm of the IDB — is currently deliberating on a financial package of approximately US$110 million to defray expenses relating to Jamaica Public Service’s (JPS) post-Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts.

JPS, the country's sole electricity distributor, incurred over US$300 million in unplanned expenditure due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa on October 6, 2025. Of that amount, the utility provider received US$150 million in loan support from the Government of Jamaica.

To date, JPS activities include the repair, replacement, expansion and overhaul of generation, transmission and distribution assets, and the installation or upgrade of energy efficiency and energy storage solutions.

As of the end of 2025, the company had customer base numbered 709,963 — 89 per cent were residential and 10.5 per cent small commercial and industrial. In addition, large commercial and industrial clients totalled 182, and other off takers amounted 498.

IDB Invest’s proposed financial support comprise a US$80-million corporate loan and a US$30 million blended finance loan, both for a three-year tenure.

With the facility, JPS will:

• repair, replace, expand and upgrade generation, transmission and distribution assets; 
• install and/or repair the Borrower’s telecommunication infrastructure; 
•  upgrade to climate resilient infrastructure; and 
• install or upgrade energy efficiency and energy storage solutions.

The IDB invest board will inform JPS of its decision in August 2026.

- JS