Dominica is poised to take center stage when the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) convenes its 3rd Council of Energy Ministers meeting at the St Kitts Marriott Resort on February 4, particularly in light of its progressing geothermal energy project.
The meeting will feature key officials from across the region.
Among the attendees will be Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS. Honourable Dr. Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis; Honourable Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Energy; and Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy, and Utilities, who will also serve as the incoming Chair of the Council.
The landmark gathering marks the first in-person meeting of the energy ministers since the pandemic, building off previous discussions held in Miami, Florida, and virtually.
Dr Jules will guide discussions on sustainable energy initiatives throughout the member states.
This examination, encompassing geothermal energy standards and guidelines, will spotlight Dominica’s endeavors, since the island is set to become home to the second geothermal power plant in the OECS, located at Laudat in Roseau Valley. This upcoming 10-megawatt facility is projected to provide clean energy to approximately 23,000 homes by the close of 2025, significantly reducing the reliance on imported fossil fuels and enhancing energy security in the region.
The meeting will center on the endorsement of the OECS Sustainable Energy Roadmap 2025-2035, which aims to drive economic transformation through sustainable energy. Ministers will discuss ambitious targets related to renewable energy integration, including a goal of achieving 30 percent penetration of renewables across the OECS by 2030, and further intensifying efforts to reach 50 percent by 2035. Critical issues such as the escalating costs of imported fossil fuels, the economics of sustainable energy, the development of new energy frameworks, and plans for Caribbean energy interconnection will also be examined, as they strive to promote regional integration and job creation.
Several international organizations, including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the German development agency GIZ, will present their findings and recommendations on energy opportunities within the region. Topics covered will include the economics of sustainable energy and its implications, as well as direct applications of geothermal energy for driving economic transformation, amongst others.
Dominica has so much potential to generate its electricity from wind, geothermal and solar. Put in a few good size batteries for storage and you’re all set!
Just get it done and shut up! This one chorus about geothermal energy for Dominica is being repeated foe eons now. Is this going to be parroted in perpetuity?