Dominica could have a geothermal power plant in operation by 2014 Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told parliament earlier this week.
This, after EU-funded feasibility studies have concluded that Dominica has the largest geothermal potential in the Caribbean.
According to Mr. Skerrit government is exploring the possibility of constructing a geothermal plant in the Roseau Valley in keeping with a policy of developing a carbon negative economy by the year 2020.
“As a first step in implementing this policy, we have commenced the process of negotiation for building a 10 to 15 megawatt geothermal plant within two to three years,” the Prime Minister stated.
At present, 70 percent of the island’s electricity is dependent on the importation and use of diesel fuel.
Mr.Skerrit told the Parliament that the electricity generated from the geothermal plant will be used exclusively to augment the domestic supply.
“One study conducted in January of this year, concluded that such a geothermal plant could result in a reduction of electricity bills by 45 to 50 percent,” he noted.
The plant could also provide renewable energy to neighbouring islands.
Bidding to select a company to build the geothermal plant in Dominica is tentatively scheduled for the second half of next year.
@ Dasheen
Just want to say, that it is better to inform and educate yourself before things happening in our environment. Not because a PM say its good, it actually is good. We always have to use our own brain and think. It is nice that you have such a positive thinking about the geothermal and I really hope its only going to be “distillate water”. But reading the facts even on wikipedia- its not only that. What about the earthquakes …. Will Dominica have the finances to fix problems when they show up, or will they be ignored? It is easy to say lets go for it, but can we handle the consequences? just think a bit further ….
How many Dominicans have actually do a little research on the issue of geothermal energy particularly the environmental impacts?
Do we really think as a people that the cost of electricity will decrease?
I invite the people of Dominica to please read the environmental impact of Geothermal energy. Thanks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_energy
The alternative I suggest to Dominica to go forward are solar, wind and other natural energy. Geothermal energy causes global warming, it releases many toxic fumes etc.
We all agree geothermal is great. But wait…these are politicians making promises. This animal Domlec, will be good for them. He hasn’t mentioned Domlec at all….hmmm TROUBLE!
Please everybody watch this link before we even think about a Geothermal power-plant!!! Is it that we really want for our Nature Isle?? http://www.bigislandvideonews.com/2012/04/25/video-a-case-against-geothermal-part-one/
Oh man, this is to dramatic. A typical example of Americans using the legal system to harvest claims and compensation, due to a severe “not in my backyard” policy. Utilization of a geothermal resource is common around the world with very few fatalities and mostly no harm to people. The steam coming from a geothermal power plant is “distilled water” and contains very low quantity of dissoved materials. The fluid from such a plant is usually re-injected into the ground, causing no harm. There is probably more pollution emitted from the diesel-powered generators beside Astaphans in Roseau than from a geothermal power plant of similar capacity.
Geothermal will not be cheaper specially if done on a 15MW scale. What it will do is reduce the money spent on fuel. But this reduction will be cancelled by the fact that the profits of the plant will be exported out of Dominica since the plant will be owned and operated by a foreign entity with govt. only getting a miserly 5% in royalties.
It is very common to “start small” and test the reservoir for a number of years and then extend the capacity. With regard to the royalties or rent for the resource; if the project can not be financed by domestic authorities nothing will happen. Then, you would get 5% of nothing, or what?
Yawnnn
Dem fellas say Vat will reduce prices at stores.. THAT WAS A LIE
Dem fellas say Petro Caribe will bring down food prices.. THAT WAS A LIE.
What makes u think Geothermal will work or reduce prices? The Govt is a parasite on the people THEY PRODUCE NO WEALTH!
@Corrupt_Bastards
They also said that They getting free money from china – a big lie only loans.
They also said cutting the port salaries will make prices go down – a bigger lie
Noble idea, but it wont happen in the timeframe for one. Secondly feasibility studies and finances have to be raised and the project justified from an investment standpoint. The pronouncements of 40% savings is premature. Financiers will want to ensure the project is viable over a very long time frame (at least 20 years), and this capital outlay typically has to have tariffs which will guarantee a reasonable rate of return. Whereas renewable energy production can result in significant operational savings, the hard reality is because these projects are so capital intensive, the typical cost per unit passed on to the customer initially will be higher. (Translation: don’t expect a drastic decrease in the cost per unit of electricity, but there will be fuel savings). By the way what happened to the concept of selling power to neighboring islands. Maybe Mr PM was not advised that Domlec already sees a demand of 15MW from the consumers. So building a plant of 15 MW does not sound forward thinking at all, particularly if one wants to sell.. I like the intention the govt has but its not realistic. The size of the plant and the time it will take to come on line will depend on the actual technical and financial feasibility plus the conviction of the financiers to give the loans, once they are convinced it will fly. Besides, nobody has entered into any agreement with Domlec yet. Do we know for sure how much power domlec will buy and at what cost? Presumably it will be cheaper than what the company pays but we cant talk about producing power without sales agreements. These are fundamental to determine sizing and financial feasibility. Technically we probably have the best resource, but we have to first determine economics and financials and yes, even how much the sales will be sustained and how much the end customers will be willing to pay. So for now, its bold brilliant politics. A great idea nonetheless, but far more to be unraveled. Finally lets not forget what happened with hydro power expansion in the 80s. To some degree there was success, but at what price (literally and with regard to the timing and cost to the consumer)? There are parallel lessons to be learned. All the same we are leading the region in sustainability efforts. That alone deserves massive credit and recognition.
Good points Pedro, But your points will go unnoticed with the lack of paragraphs. It makes for difficult reading, after all /?>*
everythng this government does have hidden agenda, not surprised something negative will come out of it.. not saying geothermal is not good its the way they do things, but these guys lying so much you just cant trust them
PRIME MINISTER I say lets begin talks with our next door neighbours, help them to see that making this investment in our geothermal project would see them reap the reward of cheaper energy, AT AN AGREEMENT THAT IS DETERMINED TO BE MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL OF COURSE!! if you pull this one off, that would be worth 100 stadiums. then we could start to talk about International airport….
I may die a fool, but still I hoping for REAL TANGIBLE progress for my country.
But 1979 you have evolved?
yeah the one time I agree with any move by that lord and savior of yours and this is what I have stumbled upon in my reading up….
I never was a good singer that’s why I gave up….
you should too and stop being annonsence.
“The profiteers pandering “clean” geothermal energy to impressionable and donation-needy politicians continually lie and commit fraud, break the law, and continue to poison us 24/7. ALL residents of Hawaii Island should demand an immediate stop to geothermal operations and criminal and civil complaints be filed against the principals of Puna Geothermal as well as all politicians who have supported and gained from this venture.”
One word: Domlec
Do we think Domlec will cut their lucrative $6 million annualy, mostly on oil, to make our politicians and Dominicans successful?
Look into what they have done to HYDRO in favor of oil, while they simply pass humongous surcharges to us. What does Gov’t have in place to make Domlec comply?? We need to know – That’s very important, or we have failed before we get started!
All Spaggs can talk about is ID cards and CLEAN and GREEN who is clean and green nuh?…Well at least I know Green,but who is Clean? Eddo or Spraggs?..
you making a dumb emotional state about oposition members based on a promise from skerrit, can you remmember the petrocaribe promise, gas will be cheaper, our light bill will be cheaper, instead we see electricity bills higher than ever…
you people sleeping with hatred in allu hearts.
Brand new electricity in 2years time, “If..if..iff..ifff all goes well”.
Most fools die already.
your brain really damage, instead you rejoice to get a news like that, thats your comment
And we all know that that will not come to fruition. It will not come to fruition because it is very expensive and will take years to develop. You will never see lower electric bills because of geothermal and that is a fact, not negativity.
Admin,do some investigative journalism on the solar panels that are being offered by the african in Portsmouth in the mean time. We need to get some respite from this monthly burden.
what they talking about na just put two cable in the boiling lake and you have current,
lol
While some people hard at work the others out there running there mouth,they always say empty barrels make the most noise.
their
teaching yoursef grammer sonny
a pie in the sky
2014 is unrealistic,… nobody has built a geothermal plant in that short of time, my guess would be 2016 if you can get the funding in place asap. Geothermal power plants have a life that will exceed 50 years,. so this is a great idea, I 100% think this needs to happen,.. keep in mind the cost will be the better part of 100 Million USA dollars in comparison to other geothermal builds I am following…
its only 10 to 15 mega watts it is small so it will not take alot of time to build
Athie is not commenting (at least in public) on the progress made so far with geothermal energy, something that rightfully fits well in what he has beeen espousing for Dominica. the public does not sense any excitement from him. If he is excited about that project, he will not stay quiet. Right now he is more inmterested in writing to the international donors to complain that money for Dominica’s low carbon strategy as he says will not make its way into his bulk water project. Three short years ago, he had ALL the financing in place to start the project within a short space of time.
Oh, Athie, how well you speak on issues you choose to champion. If only you could deliver on, even if is 1% of your talk, Dominica’s economy would be transformed overnight, even when you are not in government.
Realistically speaking, I beleive 2014 for a geothermal plant here is a very ambitious target, unless of course the Chinese or Venezuelans have already committed to provide the funding. Any other agency (CDB, EU, USAID, DFID, World Bank etc or a combination of sorts) outside the above will take at least three years to even consider the initial proposal for such a large investment out lay. Add all the other studies (technical, financial, environmental and social) to go with that and you have ten years waiting. I hope that is not the case. I however, wish my government every good wish and success. Well done, PM Skerrit. that is why you willbe always loved by the people. You are an action man whilst others talk and talk using the security of a radio microphone. Our PM is always seen in and around the ghettos and meeting people.They cannot understand why he is so loved. To ease their fustration, they call the Dominican people immoral and unethical for supporting a “corrupt” PM as they say.
If I have someone giving me things when ever I need it I will like and possible love that person it’s very simple to understand brother you a the one helping to sell DOMINICAND short for whenever one is used to getting hand out freely ask yourself why should they do otherwise I thought you had more education than that I had a head teacher who use to tell us not matter how much education a person may have if they diont have common sense they are looked upon as beening dumb.
Athie haven got to comment because he have done a lot of to educate us on the topic he just have to watch and see if the GOVT keep their promise again how smart a you cant you figure it for yourself someone else have to explain that to you this would be a chance for you to see if your GOVT is on the ball or if it was just a campaign plot, Brother Curruption is not hidden in this GOVT any more for you not to see yopu a blind and as a supporter makes it worst.
Go read your CONSTITUTION,
Almost four years ago, 24 July 2008, the Govt. signed an agreement with West Indies Power Dominica Ltd. It was on that occasion that Roosevelt Skerrit told us that a 15 megawatt geothermal power plant would be operational by the end of 2010. Was that wishful thinking or was he bamboozled, I don’t know. I sincerely hope that plant will eventually be built but I believe it when I see it.
the problem with dominicans is that any politician can say anything to them once its their party member they do not need know the facts, they dont read and they dont realise a politican should be held accountable to everything he said and done when he is in office.. they people dont like to read… i bet if you ask people about geothermal they will say is a way to produce electricity, they never take time from facebook to research that type of technology..
Labour, failed men like Arthie are the ones that talk the most.
If you ever read the book, “the 7 Habits of highly effective people” you will not see talkative as a straight.
“While labour is working, the others are talking”
Didn’t mean you run your mouth about petro carib? You nashing Arthie when it was the same laborites and Arthie opposing projects by the previous administrations. Isn’t that the reason Arthie was assogned a ministry with the labor party administration.
I anxiously await 2014 and the excuses or silence on the geothermal issue. I hope I can eat my words in 2014 -and this geothermal hoop la is just hoop la. I would bei morr receptive to wind turbines.
Athie was never to deliver on that water project. You need to read between the lines.
If I know Skerrit,the funding already in place because a project like that can’t be stopped …Well done Dominica..
Forward we go to the next Level..
You all stuck on the petty political side…Have you ever questioned how does Domlec figure in this whole thing? If Domlec isn’t happy all-you suck salt. I dear you to find out.
“Mr.Skerrit told the Parliament that the electricity generated from the geothermal plant will be used exclusively to augment the domestic supply.”
“The plant is also expected to provide renewable energy to neighbouring islands.”
Which is it? You cannot have it both ways…and I thought the rights were already sold out to foreign?
Do and he is damned. Don’t and he is damned. I would hate to be our PM.
I think you mean do BAD and he’s damned, fail to do GOOD and he’s damned.
When he does well it is publicized such that the entire world knows it.
Ouch…why all the negatives? I was just pointing out that “exclusively domestic” and “providing to neighboring islands” is not possible.
All those thumbs down your comment got shows how many people lack reading comprehension skills.
You can’t say ‘exclusively’ to one option and then turn around and add ‘also’ with another option. The ‘exclusively’ essentially ‘excludes’ other options. smh
Rea: skills go beyond what is in the print. The question is Was that what he really said? Reading skills involve questioning what we read.
Very good observation. I was thinking about it myself. And how it is supposed to only augment the current supplier and lower the electricity bills at the same time? In other to lower the bills it must in some way reduce the amount provided by the current supplier; meaning that they will be replacing, not augmenting, a certain amount from the current supplier. I hope they intend to give jobs to those that will obviously be let go from the current supplier.
“One study conducted in January of this year, concluded that such a geothermal plant could result in a reduction of electricity bills by 45 to 50 percent,”
Oh how I wish, how I hope…boy do we need a break!
I watchin’ still!!!
Very good news. I hope the Icelandic companies will continue their work. :-)
For Dominicas sake let us hope u get this one right Mr.corruption cause u messing up everything in my country.
A geothermal system requires heat, permeability, and water. The heat from the Earth’s core continuously flows outward. Sometimes the heat, as magma, reaches the surface as lava, but it usually remains below the Earth’s crust, heating nearby rock and water — sometimes to levels as hot as 700°F. When water is heated by the earth’s heat, hot water or steam can be trapped in permeable and porous rocks under a layer of impermeable rock and a geothermal reservoir can form. This hot geothermal water can manifest itself on the surface as hot springs or geysers, but most of it stays deep underground, trapped in cracks and porous rock. This natural collection of hot water is called a geothermal reservoir.
Here is the true potential….
A 1 Megawatt could serve 20,000 plus households
So we definitely have a case for exporting this energy and earn some much needed revenue.
Here we have it, proof that the prof got his degree by copying and pasting.
For those jumping about 50% reduction in electricity bills as promised, it will never happen, with the country today 100million in debt by the time this is built most of if not all revenue from this will go to service this debt. By the time this is done we will hear the excuse.
I think it is a good idea to build it and I don’t care if it’s labour or anyone else who builds’ it, but they should not fool people with promise of 50% cuts in bills.
Why not make a case for attracting light manufacturing industries to employ ALL our people instead of providing cheap energy to our competitors?
@Prof. Wikileaks
1 megawatt will serve 20,000 households if each have one light-bulb alone. but in reality the calculations are a bit more tricky than that. for instance Ross university takes about 1 MW of electrical power for its consumption.
Presently dominica produces about 15 MW and growing from diesel/hydro.
good news
so long i hearing about a geothermal plant to be built in Dominica.. way boi.. better late than never i guess. Nonetheless, it is a good iniative by our government.
LETS PRAY THAT ALL GOES WELL ITS NOT FOR ONE ITS FOR DOMINICA AND ALL WHO LIVES IN D/A
Please dont test GOD that’s what a lot of you are doing and when things dont go accordingly they say otherwise GOD is not mock,remember a poposal was given to the GOVT for some time now they sat on it their were support by other Countries and groups so now Skerrit come out with a GEOTHERMAL PLANt what happened all those years he is on a campaign trip so why not fool those that believe he’s doing good so they can keep him in power his support will be from DOMINICANS living at home not those over seas any more because they are looking at the development of the Island and that’s why he knows he will not get that hugh support he had before he have lost it DOMINICANS in the diaspora is much more smarter and will not stand for what is happeing at home they love their ISLAND So when you are offering your prayer make sure it’s for DOMINMICA and it’s people instead of a party or parties.
Spaggs doh say nothing about geothermal plant. is int’l airport we want!
sarcastic…..lol