With early tests suggesting the presence of crude oil, the Caribbean island has begun to debate whether it could justify becoming a producer Jamaica is closer than ever to drilling for oil. Tests on samples from the seabed off the Caribbean island’s south coast earlier this year identified hydrocarbons , which suggest the presence of crude oil below ground. Jamaica imports all its fuel, which costs about $1.5-2bn (£1.1bn-1.5bn) annually , depending on global oil prices. It is a persistent drag on an economy that generated $4.3bn from tourism, its biggest earner, in 2024 . Continue reading...