Dominica has signed an agreement with the World Bank for the financing of the Geothermal Development Project.
The project amounting to $27 million was signed between Regional Director for the Caribbean, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Tahseen Sayed Khan and Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Roosevelt Skerrit at a ceremony held at the Financial Centre earlier today.
This project will include the construction of a 7 MW geothermal domestic power plant.
“Under this project, the public will see coming to their homes electricity generated from the use of geothermal energy, ‘clean energy’,” Skerrit said while addressing the ceremony.
He added that this is the fourth agreement that Dominica and the world Bank have signed since the passing of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, with the previous agreements being for housing, agriculture and small business support.
“The signing of this agreement today, is another milestone in our quest to develop the geothermal potential of Dominica,” he stated. “The approval of the financing allows us to move swiftly towards the construction of the domestic plant.”
He said the geothermal project is a perfect example of how development partners working together with government can collaborate to bring important development programs to reality.
Skerrit revealed that in the next few weeks, the government will be engaged in a number of activities including the selection of the contractors and working towards the accomplishment of the conditions for effectiveness of the loan.
“In the process we’ll complete the land acquisition and finalize the power purchase agreement with DOMLEC, and complete the concession agreement as well,” he stated.
The prime minister stressed the importance of geothermal development to the country’s goal in becoming the first climate resilient nation of the world.
“Everything we are doing in Dominica has to be climate resilient as we cannot afford to rebuild the country every two to three years. This project will help us diversify our energy mix and invest in greener and more reliable energy source, so we can be uand running shortly after a storm,” Skerrit said. “We expect therefore that the use of clean, green energy and the reduction in the use of fossil fuels will enhance and protect the environment.”
He said moreover, his government’s investment in other sectors will greatly benefit from the geothermal energy.
“All our investments in new hotel infrastructure, the new schools being built, the new Smart Health Centres, the new National Hospital, the new housing complexes, all of these will benefit from the availability of clean and green energy,” he explained.
He thanked the World Bank for its commitment and for working with Dominica over the last few years on this project.
Meantime, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Tahseen Sayed Khan said this is the first World Bank Group Funded Geothermal Project in the Caribbean in 30 years, “so this is a very important milestone for pursuing the agenda of renewable and the demonstrable commitment of Dominica’s goal of becoming climate resilient.”
According to her, the World Bank is hopeful that this investment has the potential over time to further expand geothermal outputs that could potentially be used as an economic diversification tool for export purposes.
She went on to say that one of the key aspects that the World Bank and other partners often talk about with Caribbean countries, is the diversification.
“We are looking forward to a very successful implementation of the geothermal risk mitigation project,” she stated.
Dominica has a small power system that relies heavily on diesel to produce electricity. The average price of electricity on the island is amongst the highest in the world, around US$33 cents/kWh as of December 2016 and customers are exposed to the volatility of international oil prices.
Geothermal is more cost-efficient, climate resilient and greener. Following Hurricane Maria, 75 percent of the power network was damaged, leaving the whole island with no electricity. In response, the government adopted the National Resilient Development Strategy, which sets Dominica’s vision to become “the first climate-resilient country in the world”.
Diversifying the energy mix is a key element of this strategy.The Geothermal Risk Mitigation Project is expected to significantly lower electricity costs in Dominica and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix from 25 to 51 percent, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 38,223 tons of CO2 per year. It will also assess the potential to export homegrown geothermal energy to its neighbours.
The project will be implemented by the Dominica Geothermal Development Company Ltd and is financed by a US$17.2 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), US$9.95 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), as well as grants from the UK’s Department for International Development -US$10 million from DFID and US$2 million the Small Island Developing States DOCK Initiative – and technical assistance from the Government of New Zeeland and the Agence Française de
Why should i care … I will be living in Dubai by then:
https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/dominica-among-14-countries-spiraling-towards-a-government-debt-crisis-report/
When people see they cant stop progress, i guess there is nothing left to do than just complain. Isn’t that the Guy Dominicans are saying he is corrupt? Is this the Guy Dominicans call a dictator? One man show, above the law. Well he dont look like that to the world bank. Not to the European Bank. Not to the Caribbean Development Bank. Like it or not. This Guy will be written in Dominica’s history as your best Prime Minister ever. And he will win the next general election with no problem. Look around you Dominicans, there is progress its just not moving at the pace you expected. This Man has been tested. I will give credit where its due.
Has Skerrit just employed you as Chief Apologist. How much is he paying you? Presumably a lot because his CBI coffers are full. You are just as corrupt as your master.
Can you substantiate your claims or is it just the usual rethoric and meaningless propaganda? In one point I agree with you however, Skerrit will be written in Dominica’s history but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. Mark my words. We will find out soon, revelation is pretty close!
Who are the owners and beneficiary shareholders of the Dominica Geothermal Development Company Ltd.? Can we presume that they are by and large the same people who own and control the Dominica National Petroleum Company Ltd.?
I think we can safely assume that!
Jail this man. Chupes
Keep fooling them Skerro,good job,damn fools.
This article is proof that my recent pronouncement of the death and influence of the IMF and World Bank was greatly exaggerated. These two vestiges of post-colonialism capitalism are very much alive and well, thanks to the provision of lifelines from misguided recipients like the current leader of our country.
How long will it take for so called developing countries to wake up and realize they should stop mortgaging away their country’s future through ‘six for nine’ deals.
Point taken! Most Caribbean countries are very serious indebtedness. They have mortgaged their countries future. The World Bank, the IMF, the O.E.C.D. and other colonial offshoots have conspired to continue their dominance over us. Corruption has played a significant role in these countries high indebtedness particularly Dominica. Dominicans are too docile, the media is too timid and biased to call out the Skerrit’s maladministration for its corrupt practices. What has happened to the $100 000 000 PetroCaribe funds? The whole country should be in an uproar demanding answers. The private sector, the church, youth organizations, public servants, the unemployed, the media, every Dominican vociferously make unethical Skerrit and his unscrupulous disciples give an account of this mega sum of the people’s money.
The fact of this Jumbee turns me off. Is pure Jumbee I seeing.
Why don’t you do some introspection and remove the jumbee in your mind. Here you have a Government getting a loan to finance such an important project for the benefit of all Dominicans and you writing such nonsense, wow, what a mentality to have, very sad.
You can fool some ppl sometimes but you can’t fool all the ppl all the time…Bob Marley
The vision The Government has set out for Dominica is not dependent on the limited understanding of naysayers and the doom prophets like you, keep living in self-denial.
Gary, attack the real culprit real for most of Dominica’s economic, social and developmental problems, Skerrit and his minions. You always question the intellectual capacity of people who rightfully shed light on the multitudinous short comings of this pathetic regime. The truth may be an offence to blind supporters like you but it’s not a sin. Stop questioning other people’s intelligence when yours seems so questionable.
The government and your crime minister has NO vision. Full stop. End of conversation.
The money will grow legs as usual and wind up in personal overseas bank accounts not for it’s intended purpose.
Why write such nonsense. Why don’t you read and educate yourself as to how monies loaned by the World Bank is funneled to Governments, there are measures in place to ensure that the monies loaned are spent for the projects they are allocated for. http://www1.worldbank.org/publicsector/anticorrupt/fraudguide.pdf.
Gary, done away with the ostrich posture. The DLP has the necessary expertise in circumventing all the stringent measures that are put in place. Where is the $100 000 000 PetrolCaribe money? This is the people’s money! Where is it?
DNO, is it US or EC dollars? As a reputable news entity, DNO, you and the other unbiased news entities should be keeping this question in the public domain until the country gets a satisfactory answer. You will do the public a great service.
ADMIN: It is US dollars :https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/general/venezuela-writes-off-dominicas-us100-million-petrocaribe-debt/
Ibo France
To suggest The DLP has the necessary expertise in circumventing all the stringent measures that are put in place to prevent the embezzlement of funds loaned by International Banking institutions or foreign Governments only reinforces your ignorance and arrogance, not helping your cause, it also shows what your political partisan belief has done to your mind and tells me I should not engage in any further argument with you.
As to The Petro Caribe money, if you would take the time and understand The Petro Caribe agreement you would not be asking such silly questions regarding the US $100 million debt forgivingness by Venezuela, asking DNO to collaborate and assist you in your agenda is ludicrous, when the facts and evidence are there to show otherwise, power to truth.
Gary, what are you babbling on about Petro Caribe agreement?? The government of Venezuela said for everybody to hear that they forgive a debt of US$100 million owed by Dominica. Yes or no?
Assuming you are with me so far, are you saying Venezuela is lying?? If not it is the right of every citizen of Dominica to ask Skerrit of the whereabouts of this money in other words he should account for it. He should also account for the CBI money. It is his duty as PM to do that. If he can’t or won’t, he has to go. The next government, no doubt, will brief the citizens of DA of the whereabouts of the money in question after a thorough investigation. Needless to say that it won’t be a surprise to around 90% of Dominicans. It’s only the well known Dominican ostriches who will keep their head buried in the sand. Maybe they will tell us that Erica or Maria blew the money away. After all them two have been giving the majority of blame by this useless government.
To Randy X
I will try an explain to you as brief as possible how the US$100 million debt accrued. When Dominica gets a shipment of oil from S.A. PDVSA The Venezuelan National Oil through PDV Caribe Dominica Ltd. Under the Petro Caribe agreement, Dominica must pay 60 percent of the bill within 90 days. The remaining 40% can be financed over 25 years at 1% interest. The 40% at 1% interest over some yrs is where the US$100 million debt accrued, this is the debt The Venezuelan Government has forgiven. The Government has always paid 60% ensuring that there is a steady supply of oil in the Country. US$100 million was not embezzled by the Dominican Government. Educate your self read the following https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-what-petrocaribe
https://thedominican.net/articles/petrocaribe.htm
Mary, you can’t fool me. Venezuela forgave Dominica a debt of 100 million. Money or commodity it’s still a debt. Anyway, so you are saying it’s for oil. So far so good. The government then sells the oil/gas/petrol via its wholesalers and retailers to the end-user. You are with me??? The end user pays the retailer, the retailer pays the wholesaler and the wholesaler pays the government in PetroCaribe Dominica guise. Are you still with me?? Then the government/ PetroCaribe under its managing director Austrie pay Venezuela 60%. But the government/petrocaribe had 100% of the money from the wholesaler. So know, we’re is the 40% of the money that was supposed to be paid back to Venezuela after 25 years?? What did the government use this money for?? Could it pay that they payed apologists like you a tidy sum and the rest disappeared in accounts in Panama, Switzerland and Liechtenstein? Is that the reason your crimeminister travels frequently to these destinations with different diplomatic PP?
Open your eyes my friend, the kidnapped parrots, including yours truly, are right here on this post on blabbing away. We Dominicans can never be accused of biting our tongues. Nous aime parle!
Hello negative gang bangers. The project is ongoing .It is not an overnighter. It is highly scientific and technical. If you do not think so visit the Scandinavian countries, so you can stop talking with your eyes closed. You can actually visit the sight just like you can visit the new hospital sight and the hotel site in Posse. Soon you will see the Hospital in Marigot and travel through the international airport. And you guys can take that to the bank.
I applaud you for your optimism but it is badly misplaced. You definitely suffer from the ostrich syndrome or you’re the world’s greatest funny man. The PM is not even remotely believable . He has become internationally legendary for his tall tales.
JJ thanks for pointing this out. We all know that these projects can take 19 years +. In fact most projects in DA take the long and some still are waiting to commence. You are a day dreamer.
Boss you can come up with every trick on the book but this time you going out! You can lie about you going to build international airport, lie about building Marigot hospital, lie about building geothermal, lie about build how many health centers and lie about this that and this but we putting you out this time. In fact even if you were to build all what you said you going to build we would still vote you out. You have destroyed our country and honestly speaking right now I don’t even know if we have a country because it seems you have a secret deal in place those Chinese. Look at where you have us man after 15 years. Our young people can’t get a job and the best you can offer them is NEP and even with that, they must remain loyal to you for them to keep their job. You talk about slavery man. I am a Freedomite myself who voted DLP in 2000 to get rid of UWP. But today I am calling on all Freedomites, Laborites, UWPites, Pappyites to forget about party and DELIVER DA from Skerrit man
Look, you are entitled to your opinion but your opinion does not necessarily paint the truth about Dominica. Do you know how silly you are when you say quote. “You have destroyed our country and honestly speaking right now I don’t even know if we have a country because it seems you have a secret deal in place with those Chinese.” such a belief is of your imagination and perception, wow. Asking people of Dominica to remove The Government based on such a belief is ludicrous and not rational. Sadly to say, the things you perceive as lies all boils down to you not understanding the issues to bring such things to materialization.
Skirrit’s promises are like elephants; they will never fly.
I noticed something with your comment regarding the above story, its shortness, not your usual ranting. This tells me that thing they call the conscience is active in you but your ego driven by your political partisan beliefs somewhat has to show face hence such comment from you. It shows a thousand loud lies become powerless in front of one calm truth.
Gary, you have turned psychologist now. Your assumptions are just figments of your imagination. You are no scholar, just a sheep-like supporter of the most corrupt, diabolical, political embarrassment.
Except if your name is Dumbo!
One of the Directors of DGDC is Clearance Christian. Does the name ring a bell? He was the head of the financial audit department until 2015. During his time in office accounts were not audited at all or very late (we are talking years). I wonder why the finance minister did not get involved or did that perhaps suit him??
Why make such accusation about a person, such comment shows desperation. Why should we judge someone’s character or professionalism based on your words, there is always a motive behind the person casting such judgment, so long for your desperation in the light of positive things taking place in the development of our Country.
Am I telling lies?? You are just a professional apologist for this rotten regime! But fear not, next year we all know the truth about your hero and all his friends he bought to fool Dominicans. You are one of the gang…
All these contract signings and ground breaking means nothing.
1. You know how much money we have DUMPED in Geo-thermal a majority of which in strongly alleged to be in the coffers of the players through kick-backs?2. You know how long the contract with Mexico was signed reference the Marigot Hospital?
3. You know how long the ground was broken for the US sponsored Coast Guard Base?
4. You know how long the ground was broken for the Pte. Soufriere to Delices road?
5. You know how long the contract for a NEW PMH was signed before a nail was driven in the “refurbished” Kai-Poole that is now ongoing?
Me, this reformed Labourite (NOT Skerritetite) is walking with my eyes WIDE OPEN!
Keep walking with your eyes open wide open and believe such an attitude will help you perceive the truth as to what is happening in Dominica, I will tell you this, you can walk with your eyes wide open but it is not your eyes that make you know the true nature of things, wallow in your ignorance. When you say money was siphoned through kickbacks during the building of the West Bridge, do you know this to be a fact. As to your allegation regarding the Geothermal Project, it shows the nonsense and ignorance you are willing to entertain despite the tremendous hard work the Government is doing to materialize such project for the benefit of all Dominicans. When you call the new Hospital under construction “refurbished'” Kai-Poole it says a lot about your mentality, pity your foolishness, woe unto what you believe, such a belief is worthless so long.
Mary, all this is very easily solved. Why doesn’t your crimeminister show us the account for said projects? Why is he refusing? Your crimeminister is a liar and a conman and you must fall in that same category otherwise you would defend the indefensible!!!
Well, well, we’ll. The minute our finance minister and crime minister gets involved in a project and financing of the same project, the figures, in true fashion, don’t add up at all. US$17.2M from IDA, 9.95M from CTF, 10M from DFID and 2M from Dock Initiative and that makes a grand total sogar of US$39.15 Million. Add to that that new finance arrangement with the world bank of 27Million and you arrive at US$66.15 so far and that is without an unspecified amount from the UK International Development department. I believe at the time a sum of US$12Million was mentioned. So all in all we are at a grand total of around almost 80Million for this project.
I seem to recall a cost estimate of 38 Million some 2 years back! So, has inflation since been so bad, or is the pipe work used out of pure cold or have the usual ‘commission payments’ spiralled out of control. We need to have clarification of the finance for this project and Skerrit better come up with it swiftly.
Mr. Skerrit is engaged in voodoo mathematics. This man has no formal training in accounting, economics, math, yet he made himself Minister of Finance as soon as he became PM. He’s the epitome of a square peg in a round hole as the Cabinet Minister entrusted with the dollars and cents belonging to Dominica. It’s no wonder the country is in such economic and financial shambles.
You to never seem to write nothing sensible, it just shows what your political partisan beliefs can do to your mind.
Is it true? Attack the veracity of the statement. I seriously doubt the Minister of Finance can solve Secondary School mathematical problems. His major was in English at an unknown university and he’s not even proficient in it. Listening to Skerrit without his prepared speech gives you anxiety. The man embarrasses the country always complaining about his armmmm.
A GT power plant with that capacity should not cost more than US$35 Million and that’s a fact. So based on your calculation that leaves a lot of money unaccounted for again. This is how this PM operates and has been operating for years. He refuses to give the citizens proper facts and figures and this is exactly the reason he does it! Considering this and other projects as well as the unaccounted CBI program and the unaccounted Venezuelan millions I leave it to all your imagination as to the size of Skerrits bank accounts!!!
I must laugh at your silliness. You tell me how a lot of money is unaccounted for again when the project has not even started, wow.
Mary, please go away. Your desperate attempts to defend the indefensible are laughable. You have a few screws loose!
Mary, of course the project has not started yet. I wonder what that thing in the Roseau valley is all about though? Probably Skerrit rocket launch side?! Go back to the rum shop, Mary!
Implementation of projects like this is inherently hard to forecast, but this government is really making a muck of this. Hire better project managers and …. or get off the pot
This is a government that doesn’t do anything for 4.5 years, but then every time before election for the remaining half year they spring into action, sign contract, make promises, take projects out of the drawer that have been gathering dust for the past 4 years… We don’t want a government like that anymore and we need a PM that works 5 years out of 5 not 6 month out of 5 years. Let’s face it he only spends consecutive time in Dominica during any election. Nobody knows where he spends the rest of his time. And we pay him for that!
Right on, Mr. X. The PM is a tourist in his own country. He goes globe trotting much too often at the expense of the poor tax payers. If he had to pay the airline and hotel expenses for his many too frequent overseas fun trips, he would not even travel one quarter (1/4) of the times he does presently. He has a Robin Hood type of relationship with the people with a big difference. Instead of taking from the rich to give to the poor, he robs from the poor to give pittance to the poor. The RED CLINIC is a perfect example. Poor tax payers’ money is used to give pittance to the poor. This money does not come from Skerrit’s personal bank account nor out of his pocket. By giving handouts at the Red Clinic, he (PM) creates an insatiable appetite in these mendicants for things that they have not worked for. Many then see begging as a source of an easy livelihood.
How many homes can 7 megawatt of geothermal electricity support? And based upon what I read above that would “increase our share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix from 25 to only 51 percent.” Yet, they want to sell extra power to the neighboring islands.
What am I missing?
LIES, LIES, LIES and more lies! Deception, Deception, Deception and more DECEPTION! A country built on Lies cannot stand!
Isa. 14:20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9
People, soon our local Dragon will be cast out. That old Liar, the serpent; the deceiver, also called Satan and the Devil and in Dominica we call him by another name but he is no doubt the same old Devil and father of Lies. When we read Jhn 8:44 we are actually reading of the same person. There is NO truth in him. What he saw last night, on a Thursday night, in a DLP stronghold has him trembling. It confirms to him that his time is VERY SHORT. So let him that LIES lie still
I have seen this movie before. Signing agreement or contract is nothing. We have seen a lot of that before, especially the last 15 yrs when election is close. In fact just go back to 2013. Do you remember this:
PM Skerrit inks US$300-million deal with China https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/economy-development/pm-skerrit-inks-us300-million-deal-china/
Six years later where is the airport? Where is the hotel? Where is the hospital? They in the sky right? Now don’t tell me the Chinese building PMH because the Chinese embassy said they were not involved in it https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/business/chinese-embassy-clarifies-us300-m-deal/
Ian Douglas would say I have been FOOLED so many times by Roosevelt Skerrit that it doesn’t even bother me to be fooled by him again. In other words I AM USE TO BEING FOOLED and whenever he opens his mouth or even signs contract, it’s just another lie.
But world Bank is not Skerrit friend so UWP will build it
a bunch of contract signing here and there and nothing else not happening!
#SMH
Dude I remember when Eugenia Charles and Alleyne Carbon made some big pronouncement about geothermal development and selling electricity to the french islands. That was way back in the day[giving may age here]. It’s 2019 for crying for loud. Build this thing already.
So when I read that I will say vote Skerrit? You would then bring out your deceptive smile? Were you hibernating for 20 years. To anyone with just 1/4 of a brain you want to transform Dominica in a few short days before an election!!! You had 20 years to do so!! This is to hoodwind the electorate? It won’t Skerrit, neither will your fake smile!!!
What about the international airport?
Roseau road reinstatement?
New library?
Cruise Village?
Boat for farmers, etc?..I guess by next week you will give us the lie!!!
Your lazy leader. Are you just getting out of a 20 years coma?
Skerrit Must Go
Skerrit Must Go
LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now
Why these so-called historic signings always occur before an election, and after the election we don’t hear anything from them again? Sak sort!