During JAXPORT Board of Directors meeting, State of Florida chief financial officer Jimmy Patronis, Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes, and other dignitaries from the island of Aruba joined leadership from JAXPORT and Eagle LNG Partners LLC (Eagle LNG) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
JAXPORT and Aruba are trying to mutually promote business and tourism opportunities between the two regions, share best practices on port operations and environmental sustainability, and explore the potential for trade and business development according to JAXPORT.
Additionally, the agreement follows a business trip by JAXPORT leadership to Aruba in January.
After the board meeting, the delegation from Aruba toured JAXPORT’s facilities.
On 29 March, JAXPORT will host a roundtable to connect the delegation with Jacksonville-area customers and business development leaders to further explore collaboration opportunities.
Recently, JAXPORT and Eagle LNG signed a multi-year agreement with Aruba’s power and water utility company, Utilities Aruba NV, to provide liquefied natural gas (LNG) from their Jacksonville facility for power generation on the island.
In addition, the LNG will be exported from Jacksonville to an LNG import terminal on the island.
“Jacksonville is a global leader in using LNG as a clean marine fuel, and this agreement marks another milestone in that evolution,” commented JAXPORT board chair J. Palmer Clarkson.
“This capability creates opportunity for the growth of LNG as a cargo type—further positioning our region as a leader in the use of clean fuel technology,” he added.
