Geothermal drilling ends in Roseau Valley; project enters new stage

Drilling equipment on the site
Drilling equipment in the Roseau Valley

Drilling in the Roseau Valley for the island’s geothermal project has officially come to an end and the project is now entering a new stage.

The drill-rig used on the project is now being transported back to Iceland, from where it was originally contracted.

DNO has learnt that the drilling company has gotten contracts for drilling new geothermal wells in Iceland.

Energy Minister, Ian Douglas, told DNO that authorities have found that the wells can in fact generate geothermal energy and the project is moving to the next step.

“So the next step is to go on to purchase and source the turbines, which in local parlance (are) the generators, that would turn the hot steam coming from the wells which we have dug into electric power and energy for use by the population,” he stated. “So all things are in place.”

He noted that in terms of the project, the government has been in consultation with DOMLEC and Independent Regulatory Commission (IRC) at every stage.

“We are just in the process of concluding on all of those issues,” he remarked. “Of course you know we have foreign partners, the foreign French consortium that are joining the government of Dominica in the continued development of the geothermal energy and we are in fact making good progress on the program so far.”

Meanwhile Douglas informed that a Dominican company has to be formed to oversee the development of a geothermal plant. He said it has to be a joint venture between the government and the French consortium.

“When that company forms, that is the company that will start the development of the small development plant,” he stated.

Douglas said the first small plant which will supply Dominica with electricity, is expected to be commissioned by 2017.

The government has spent over $50-million in exploring the island’s geothermal potential.

In 2012 then Energy Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, had said construction of a geothermal plant would begin in the first quarter of 2013.

Also in 2012, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, told parliament that Dominica could have a geothermal power plant in operation by 2014.

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44 Comments

  1. fantastic4
    July 3, 2015

    Boy, boy, boy!!! the government again fooling people; remember the famous – ‘I like it, I really like it, I really really like it ” debate at the Dominica State College emmmmh!!! and the Ambassador say that the Geothermal was going to be the driver of the economy and all things will be centered around geothermal including the export of energy to neighboring islands. My God what has happened to this miracle?

    What has really happened? Well PM Skerrit said publicly on National Radio if not the selling of passport then what else but taxes, no mention of geothermal like the ‘like it’ debate articulated. And Dominicans are still believing the BS coming from those guys mouth. I tell you only in Dominica, only in Dominica.

  2. Bod
    July 3, 2015

    Well that’s the end of that, then. Probably for the best. I expect that there are not many brown envelopes involved in the project. Adios geothermal. It was an interesting idea while it (the election) lasted. Probably better that we don’t flatten the head of the entire Roseau Valley for a geo plant though, eh ? I wonder what will be next. I know ! Wave power ! Rock it up. Got to be some brown involved there surely.

  3. Liberty
    July 2, 2015

    The drilling company packed up and left Dominica
    two years ago.?
    Why are the lies still being told to the country and no challenge being made.
    The island is lost to this utterl corrupt politicians

  4. Titiwi
    July 2, 2015

    Best you put a cap on it Ian…..I mean the well of course!

  5. The lying tongue
    July 2, 2015

    Before any work could begin on that geothermal project, legal fees swallowed up $2,000,000.00. Remember where all that money went to?

    Was the Lawyer working together with another Lawyer Mano? Remember the 42 charges of fraud filed against that lawyer? What about that case, nuh? Judicial Review still, after all those years? So case close because of who involved?

    That mismanaged geothermal project is a classic example, once again, of the incompetence of Skerritt’s DLP Gov’t.. The tax-payers of Dominica have to pay for the Cabal’s consistent Lies, trickery, dishonesty and lack of accountability.

    Beware of the Lying tongue

  6. China Man
    July 2, 2015

    Waaay!!! Look at uwp supporters boy! They back at it again, dissing anything that might look like progress by d government. Well is so all you can be happy so have all you fun papa. And again they fire Karmalar, all you day make! Lol

    • fantastic4
      July 3, 2015

      That’s all you can say on the matter. If you are in a position to educate the UWP supporters or give some more insight of the operations then do so- l too would be interested in hearing any updates from your informed position.

    • r charles
      July 4, 2015

      she starting work monday boy,with govt.

  7. UserName
    July 2, 2015

    Drilling in the Roseau Valley for the island’s geothermal project has officially come to an end and the project is now entering a new stage!!!!!….. you would believe like that happened yesterday. So long time ago in Laudat(hem)…. drilling stop and project went into lapse.. but the story wants to portray something different. DNO when was the last recorded date of actual project work., well behind the scenes looking at your numbers is work also. Next step is to buy the turbines!!!.. all things are in place!!!.. DNO was info forthcoming in terms of cost of turbines, mechanism of financing, expected purchase and delivery dates. I guess we will have to wait and see “When that company forms, that is the company that will start the development of the small development plant,” and how much return on investment “THEY” looking at.. in other words what price will we eventually be paying for geothermal energy.

  8. Business Minded
    July 2, 2015

    A telltale sign when someone talks in circles or beats around the bush is when a topic is at hand and everything but what is expected is addressed. A simple ‘yes or no’ would suffice, but the person gives the ‘when, where, how and why’ and still didn’t address the topic with a simple ‘yes or no.’

    Please allow me to quote what I read Mr. Douglass said according to DNO: “Meanwhile Douglas informed that a Dominican company has to be formed to oversee the development of a geothermal plant. He said it has to be a joint venture between the government and the French consortium.”

    A company still has to be formed after over $50-million was spent? Are you kidding me? This leaves you shaking your head and wondering what was really achieved for that staggering cost. I hope the French consortium travels with a Guillotine.

  9. Looking
    July 2, 2015

    This Geothermal thing may have been a wonderful thing and probably the only bright idea that was thought of by this administration. But there are so many things to consider, are the French islands just going to abandon their suppliers of electricity? I strongly doubt. In over 15 years of this administration what have we done on our own? China invests for their interest. Venezuela did not only invested in Dominica but other countries who signed onto the ALBA agreement. No rocket science. Maybe all productive sectors have fallen off. Charity, is only going to block holes in a holey road, it shows ugly economic issues in our society. Our people can\’t take care of their families and friends because they are broke. Simple. If our people were financially secure we would not have to depend on these handouts. Are we going to continually blame external factors? The signs of a failed state.

  10. Anthony Ismael
    July 2, 2015

    I would like to be positive, however this project will never come to pass.

  11. Country Man
    July 2, 2015

    I hope they have a system and plan in place to use them wells before they collapse. This is becoming one of the most expensive geothermal projects ever. What this says to me is that the developer selected/put together to build and operate this pending power plant will have to get a drilling rig onsite – the rig has to be amortized in this project which translates to an increase in the development cost. This project has been mismanaged. If we look at the current cost of solar and wind with storage and use of smart grid technology the population would see a lower levelized cost of energy than what we will get from this geothermal power plant. The cost trajectory of these energy technologies (wind, solar, storage) are getting lower making them more competitive. This is happening when the cost of geothermal is not getting any lower. We keep DEVELOPING and PLANNING when we should be PLANNING AND DEVELOPING – we have this backwards.

  12. Titiwi
    July 2, 2015

    Oh yes people, just like the ground breaking for the new hospital that was supposed to take place yesterday already! Yes Sir, 1st. April is every month in Dominica.

  13. anonymous2
    July 2, 2015

    I will believe it when I see it.

  14. Ayn Rand
    July 2, 2015

    Geothermal again, Dominicans just put on your fools cap. We have a bunch of lazy stupid men in office.
    St.Lucia and St.kitts making strides, Dominica just lagging behind. :lol: :lol:

  15. MAN KIND
    July 2, 2015

    solar farms to produce power would have been more conducive and environmentally friendly . they also would have been built faster and no noise and air pollution.

  16. Jay
    July 2, 2015

    The truth is that the French consortium of CDC Infrastructure, GDF Suez and NDG Group only ever experessed an interest “in resuming the geothermal power plant project in Dominica, abandoned by EDF” – trade publication Enez Green of 28 March. 2014. Roosevelt Skerrit was deprived of his champion, Victorin Lurel, after the latter lost the municipal elections in Vieux Inhabitants in Guadeloupe in March 2014 and was replaced as France’s Mininster for overseas territories, after less than two year in office, by George Pau Langevin. Roosevelt Skerrit, had to start all over again, hence his meeting with Pau Langevin in Paris in May of this year, at a time when the the French interest in supporting this project has cooled considerably, not least because of the dramatic weakening of the oil market and a reluctance by France for dependency on energy supplies from a source of questionable political stability and allegiance.

  17. De Brain
    July 2, 2015

    Ian, I wish I could swallow what you usually say but unfortunately, you simply say things that only idiots will believe!!

  18. Not a herd follower
    July 2, 2015

    Does Ian genuinely believe what he says?

    • Shameless
      July 2, 2015

      Good question. The short answer is NO! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

      But Ian like everyone else in the Cabal has to toe the line or else :twisted: . Rest assured that one day all these lies will be exposed and there will be a price to pay. Mark my words.. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

      Assertive, NOT Aggressive!

  19. Peter Potter
    July 2, 2015

    2012, 2013, 2014 and now 2017! I can tell you that 2017 is not going to happen either. It’s the same old story with this government – empty promises, a few lies and plenty of talk. Action however is in very short supply. I have never seen such incompetence in all my live, but the best thing is, they get away with it all the time. Dominica where are you going??

  20. Mamizoo
    July 2, 2015

    DNO a few months ago Ian said that they were finalizing policies to take to parliament.
    My quest is DNO do you guys have reporters who will remind these liars of their previous statements

  21. alas
    July 2, 2015

    I hope this doesn’t end up like Bahar Mar in de Bahamas

  22. Mamizoo
    July 2, 2015

    The more they keep lying is the more stupid they appear and the growing popularity of wind and solar farms will make the liars the climax of the comedy show.
    Now they install a ministry and minister for project implementation and we keep hearing and seeing more chaos and conflicting stories.
    What a country we have become

  23. mandate 2 mismanage
    July 2, 2015

    Someone needs to make a Calypso about this. I soo want to believe that some of these projects will bear fruit, but I after a while of hearing: In 2012 X said the first quarter of 2013; In 2013 X said by 2014;
    In 2014 X said January 2015 then July; who can seriously have any confidence in anything?

    Then you hear the sums of $$ involved. double digit millions here and there, but businesses are struggling, no money to pay this one and that one, I mean come on man! The ONLY thing that seems to happen on schedule is salaries and perks to those in office! When is enough, enough?!

  24. Tampa
    July 2, 2015

    Oh, by the way Ian, what happened to the geothermal project in Soufriere? Can your government give us an update on this?

  25. Tampa
    July 2, 2015

    Ian, you are speaking in very vague terms. Who comprise this “foreign partners the French Consortium” that you talk about? Why do you guys keep moving the goal post by giving the public different dates for construction and operation? Do you know what is involved in sourcing and purchasing turbines. Do you know how long this takes? We want specifics.

    When I recall your statements on the Morroco hotel and the boat that DLP promised to purchase over ten years ago, it makes me wonder whether the public should take you and members of the cabal seriously with your utterances.

  26. grell
    July 2, 2015

    Lies thtat will never prosper,keep on waiting Dominica.

  27. Hmmmmm
    July 2, 2015

    Good stuff

  28. Malgraysa
    July 2, 2015

    I beg to differ with DNO. This saga has its genesis in events of July 2008 – six years ago!- when Roosevelt Skerrit and Ambrose George signed an agreement with the chairman of West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. Gregory de Gannes and its CFO Demetrius Apokinas ( owner of now defunct Griffon Bank) for the exploration of geothermal energy with the first plant expected to produce energy by the last quarter of 2010! What happened to these plans, that company and where are these gentlemen now, not to mention the approx. £2 million disbursed in fees? I dismiss Ian Douglas’ utterings as unintelligible prattle and hope and pray that at least a small plant to supply local needs will eventually emerge from this mess, but it wont’t be cheap!

  29. Francisco Telemaque
    July 2, 2015

    It will never be completed, it will never generate a single unite of electricity!

    I am critical of this thing; I will only believe it will work when it get started in the year never ever!

    • jamesd
      July 2, 2015

      And you know this how?

  30. derp
    July 2, 2015

    if the government was really serious they would go into solar energy, by subsidizing the costs to import them, or even sell cheap solar panels to the consumers, the sun always there…

    • Cecilia
      July 2, 2015

      I know right!

      I know the start-up costs for solar/wind/ocean energy can be costly, but the benefits(environmental) and long-term costs will be defrayed.

    • Francisco Telemaque
      July 2, 2015

      That actually is one of our natural sources which should be developed: However, as it stands to there might not be anybody involved with technical skills to get it going, if you put a geologist in charge, that to is a pending disaster. This crap that you hear that idiot talk about drill got new contract in Iceland, is pure garbage.

      As, many geothermal plants in Iceland I doubt they only have one such drill and company involved. Utilizing that form of energy will help, however, our priority should be to develop hydroelectric generation, of we have the potential and it is not difficult to produce.

  31. SMH
    July 2, 2015

    So, the energy bill is still in it’s draft stages and the main requirement for any grant funding is for the bill to be passed as law and we have the gov’t wasting time as usual. Also unless it’s funded 90% by grants it will not be profitable or cheaper for the public.

    • Heroines
      July 2, 2015

      Key word, “grants”. Meaning not a loan. Therefore there is no payback. I am assuming that the grant is tied to conditions such as providing electricity to the French islands etc. it is usually how grants work. I am happy to see how this works out. So many years we have nothing but domlec generators. Is about time we innovated. Projects are delayed throughout the world. Wembley stadium was something like five years behind schedule. Unforeseen circumstances can occur.

      • Titiwi
        July 3, 2015

        Grant?You must be dreaming. As recent as 15 May of this year the Govt. of Dominica issued a press release (GIS) in which mr. Skerrit states that his Cabinet has decided to contract a U.S.$.50 million loan with the Worldbank to finance this project. I have not heard if the bank has agree to such a deal.

  32. Jans
    July 2, 2015

    DNO are you saying that the lying continues. French consortium!!!!!? Who Kardakan. Well Papi had brought in some French investors dressed up in plad colorful suits the next thing we saw the same set of Saintoires getting on a little fishing boat with their fishing equipment heading back to the saints.

  33. Doc. Love
    July 2, 2015

    The geothermal plant was suppose to begin in the first quarter of 2013, then 2014, then in 2017, then in 2030, ok, in 2033 then in 2037 and maybe in 2040.Unfortunate, senior citizens like me may not benefit from the cheap electricity Skeritt has been talking about. Skeritt himself might not be even available, however, at least my children, grand children and great grand children will benefit. :lol:

  34. Jans
    July 2, 2015

    DNO are you saying that the lying continues. French consortium!!!!!? Who Kardakan. Well Papi had brought in some French investors dressed up in plad colorful suits the next thing we saw the same set of Saintoires getting on a little fishing boat with their fishing equipment heading back to the saints

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