"The energy policy is ready and will be in front of Cabinet and Parliament," Golding said town-hall meeting in May Pen, Wednesday night.

Like its predecessor, Golding is promoting an energy policy that will lay emphasis on a substantial conversion to LNG as an energy source for industry, particularly the island's alumina refineries, whose use of expensive oil helps to make them uncompetitive.

Jamaica imports over 90 per cent of its energy needs and last year spent US$2.7 billion to import 26.4 million barrels of oil.