The Government of Dominica is hosting a Geothermal Global Partners Conference to mobilize resources for geothermal energy development on the island. The ‘Dominica Geothermal Global Partners’ conference which is ongoing at the State House Conference Centre is in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) together with the United States Department of State and the United Nations, especially their offices in the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados.
“So, we have brought these partners together to discuss how the international community can assist, both governmental and non-governmental,” Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy, Dr. Vince Henderson said during a live interview on state-owned Radio DBS on Tuesday. “We have brought together a group of partners, a coalition including the Government of Iceland, the World Bank as one of our premiere partners, and Iceland as the source of most of our technical support because these are services that we have paid for whether they’ve been through grants or direct financing.”
According to him, there are two sets of activities that will be undertaken in order to bring geothermal power to homes and businesses throughout Dominica.
As it relates to the construction of the geothermal plant in Laudat, Dr. Henderson pointed out that all preliminary works are completed, “that is to say, it is ready to just construct a power plant.”
“We have drilled the wells, we have tested the resource, we have designed and developed the plant, so it’s really just construction,” Dr. Henderson stated.
“So that investment is a significant investment of about $60 million.”
He revealed further that the government has a partner that is ready to develop this project in terms of financing, “but what we are doing is seeking to mobilize our partners like the Caribbean Development Bank who will be here on island as well and other partners to assist…”
“They can assist us with concessional financing to ensure that the ratepayers in Dominica can get the lowest possible tariff, that is to say, DOMLEC bill, to reduce it significantly,” Dr. Henderson noted. “We have also brought the partners in to hear about the second part of the project, which is the construction of the transmission lines/ transmission system moving from Laudat to Fond Cole.”
Additionally, he said the government has already secured funds for that section, “So that is not really what we are asking them to commit to, but the second part of the transmission system which is from Fond Cole to Sugar Loaf in Portsmouth with a heavy price tag, to ensure that we build a resilient line, as much undergrounding as possible, sturdier towers that can withstand high winds, and that way we are looking at mobilizing the resources for that.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Henderson on behalf of the government apologized to the Dominican public for the delay in the construction of the geothermal power plant.
“We apologize to the Dominican people for having taken so long and since we have taken so long some of the situations we have with power outages… it falls heavily on our shoulders because we have been pushing this for over a decade,” he stated.
However, Dr. Henderson said that these projects are not easy.
“The average time to get a geothermal project going from start to finish is about 7 to 10 years,” he explained. “And the truth is, the types of investments, the type of technical work required for this is not as easy.”
Furthermore, he pointed out that the good thing about geothermal is, “once you get it right you will have it for another five to six decades.”
“You can go to 50 to 60 years with your Geothermal Power Plant operating once you maintain it properly, you design it well to ensure the sustainability of the resource,” Dr. Henderson explained. “We have invited the partners, because we feel that we need the momentum to get this going, to ensure that we can conclude the contract for actual construction of the power plant, to ensure that we can issue a contract for the construction of the transmission system, from Laudat to Fond Cole and to ensure that we can see work started early next year.”
He continued, “We want to see the project actually started, especially during the dry season, so that we can get the momentum to move throughout the year and get this ready by the end of 2025.”
Dr. Henderson said the government will ensure that it doesn’t have to depend on importing fossil fuels, “we don’t have to depend on whether it rains, whether we have Saharan dust, we don’t have to wait to replace batteries after 10 years. We are looking at an investment that has 24/7 power for Dominica.”
So, when I read where the Dominica liar said the United States Department is involved in his and Roosevelt thing, I dug, found this.
Ambassador to the OAS, His Excellency Dr. Vince Henderson stated that over 25 million dollars have been invested in this project to date. He explained that the Prime Minister has provided some of these funds through the CBI programme while the rest will come from donor agencies.
“So what we have actually sent is probably 5 million US from local funds from the inflows of the CBI to finance the geothermal project. So we have put in 5 million US for the acquisition of lands for the operation of the geothermal company; and we would expect the rest of the funds for the actual project will come from our partners who will be bringing in about 25 million dollars in equity and the balance of the funds we will get from lenders such as the World Bank; we will use the grants from the UK that is fund we have been able to secure,” Dr. Henderson stated.
all lies
The governance of our beloved country is build on lies and deceit. When will we all hold these clowns accountable.
“The Government of Dominica is hosting a Geothermal Global Partners Conference to mobilize resources for geothermal energy”(Henderson).
I do not speak or understand patios; nevertheless. perhaps if Henderson spoke those words in patios; maybe by some miracle I would understand his lie.
They said they have the money to complete the project, so how come they are mobilizing resources: the term resource mobilization means activities undertaken to find new additional; financial, human, and material resources to advance a mission.
Now this: “together with the United States Department of State:” is Henderson crazy?
The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country’s foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nations, its primary duties are advising the U.S. president!
I Wonder he is suggesting the U.S government investing in his…
This man’s face… he looks like he just accidentally did a little whupsy in his designer pants…
“So, we have brought these partners together to discuss how the international community can assist, both governmental and non-governmental,” Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy, Dr. Vince Henderson said during a live interview on state-owned Radio DBS on Tuesday. “We have brought together a group of partners, a coalition including the Government of Iceland, the World Bank as one of our premiere partners, and Iceland as the source of most of our technical support because these are services that we have paid for whether they’ve been through grants or direct financing.”
So here we have it from the horses mouth. They are looking for money to complete the project. May I ask what happened to the 30 million USD that they claim they have spend already? Something doesn’t add up at all. Where are the account for this project and who has audited them. Something is very fishy.
Rightfully observed. And international investors will certainly want to see an audit trail and the accounts so far this project. Remember, the Prime Minister Skerrit also said at this conference that over $150 million have been spent so far. Now if I was a potential investor I would be asking myself if this is value for money or is this throwing my money down a bottomless well, no pun intended!
During the recently held Electoral Reform Consultation at the State House, Hon. Dr. Vince Henderson is on record as saying that the geothermal will begin to produce electricity next year, 2024. Now at this investors conference in the same State House, he is saying 2025! The self-proclaimed geo-firma king is proving to be a slippery rolling stone! Call me when Dominicans can switch on their lights from this Geothermal project! The same goes for the international airport which will be owned by China for at least 99 years, that is the formula, just ask Sri Lanka!
Con-Vince boy all of all you deserve to be jailed for life
Bro if you were in Gaza right now the reality of life would have caught up with you a long time ago; but don’t worry partner your lies will catch up with you someday, maybe in the next life, roll your dice mr Politician.
Has Vince been paying attention to the earthquakes being cause by geothermal power plans in Asia considering it’s being constructed so close to as residential community in Ladut…???
u know this government cannot be taken seriously… don’t have money but going to make cable cart in d air…this government must stop this foolishness…and he has this bunch of monkey just following him..Dominican need to wake up and smell the coffee…I have been fooled too many times…skerrit can never get my vote again..i am fed up with this crooked bunch… just look at them closly and u will see their crooked smiles
This is a nocturnal administration that operates best in complete darkness. Nothing it fears more than light.
There is hardly any light when it comes to specific completion dates, precise cost of the fairytale projects, (geothermal energy, international airport) etc. Darkness will continue to hover over Dominica until civility, honesty, equality, tranquility and unity are restored to this country.
I fear for Dominica when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever.
The truth of the matter is that we have wasted so many millions of dollars in the past on Labour party election campaigns, cool-out, red clinic, election bribes, paying for votes, building hotels that have provided no value to date, living large and travelling the world as even the Prime Minister accused some of his past ministers of doing, that now we really need money to build Dominica the money is drying up? We almost need the IMF again!
This Labour party government is fully responsible for the failing electricity industry in Dominica today. Their inaction and lack of investment in new generators and upgrade of the energy infrastructure is why we have no lights almost every day! Labour finally killed Dominica! We are truly in the dark now! Thank you Hon. Dr. Vince Henderson!
Next will be the international airport that will have no money to complete! Meanwhile, how much rent we paying for the Prime Minister to live in his wife family mansion? Oh Dominica, too late shall be the cry!
The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which is a global network of investigative journalists with staff on six continents, made this morning some very revealing truth about Dominicas CBI program. The matter was also printed in The Guardian, a very respected British liberal newspaper. It gives a pretty damming insight in Skerrits passport dealing and no doubt there will be a swift reaction from the international community, in particular the EU and the USA. Watch this space.
Please read: http://www.occrp.org and http://www.guardian.co.uk
This is a direct link to the Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/11/golden-passports-dominica-citizenship-by-investment-cbi-scheme
And on that note, the Board of Directors namely,
Patrick Pemberton
Denise Edwards – the Financial Secretary
Frederica James
Samuel Raphael
Francine Baron
Cecil Joseph – Manager of DBS
Lemuel Lavernier and
Kendall Johnson
must tell us what happened to the approval given by the IRC for the solar plant at Tareau. That approval was given in 2022
A who is who of the most loyal Skerrit supporters.
Thanks for the update Vince. Go for it, we’re standing with you.