Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson has announced that the target date for getting geothermal power on the grid is 2025. He made the announcement during the 2023-2024 National Budget debate on Thursday.
“We have now gotten to the final stage of negotiating an agreement with a private developer in a public private partnership…,” he said. “The good news is that we have finalized a date, we have started discussions on the final terms of the agreement and we are hoping in a few weeks we will be able to sign and to see construction commence later this year.”
He continued, “Once we can achieve that, our target date for getting geothermal power on the grid is 2025.”
According to Dr. Henderson, the actual designs of the plant have started and the company has done the designs.
“They have someone on the ground right now doing significant surveys and these are contracts they have already awarded,” he revealed. “Their project manager has visited and been in Dominica and in the Roseau Valley, so we are pretty much on our way. We are very advanced in that.”
Furthermore, he stated that there has been successful drilling in the Roseau Valley and there are two new wells with some of the best results anywhere in the world.
“We also have additional backup wells in that area,” he revealed.
Meanwhile, Dr. Henderson revealed that the biggest challenge the government is being faced with is the construction of new transmission lines.
“Because [with] the current system of DOMLEC, from the Roseau Valley to Fond Cole, the transmission lines will not have the capacity to carry hydro plus geothermal power,” he explained. “So, we must invest in new transmission lines and upgrade the capacity of those lines from 11 kilovolts. We are moving to 33 kilovolts and 69.”
In addition to that Dr. Henderson said the government will be building resilience in that line that they’ve never had before.
The government has spent over $50 million exploring the island’s geothermal potential.
In September 2016, Dominica and New Zealand signed an EC$4 million Partnership Agreement to support the construction of a 7 MW geothermal power plant on the island.
In December 2016, Dr. Henderson said the United Kingdom (UK) had committed $7 million in grant funding to the project.
In June 2016, during a visit to Dominica, UK’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of International Development, Baroness Sandip Verma, urged the government to “get on” with the much-talked-about project, saying it should not be “left to be on the back burner for a long time.”
In April 2016, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit emphasized the government’s commitment to the harnessing and development of geothermal energy in Dominica.
In March 2015, the then Energy Minister Ian Douglas said that a draft Geothermal Bill, which will govern the exploration, development, and exploitation of power that will be generated from the country’s geothermal resources, is nearing completion.
Douglas said at the time that construction of a small geothermal plant was to begin by 2017.
In 2012 former Energy Minister, Rayburn Blackmoore, said construction of a geothermal plant would begin in the first quarter of 2013.
Also in 2012, Prime Minister Skerrit, told parliament that Dominica could have a geothermal power plant in operation by 2014.
Vince , Vince! How many times can you change your face and coning smiles? This project is not viable and it is ok to come out to say so.
Guyana tried it and have backed away from it. So how is little Dominica going to sustain this project ?
Stop washing our money in wasteful so called projects.
I know wi, we’re used to politicians kicking the can (bucket) down the road.
This Government can do nothing well. Just look around! A track record of stealing, deceiving and misleading are greatest scores on Report Card.
Vince, when are you all going to stop feeding Dominicans with lies. It’s ok to be honest and say we are not close. What a joke…2025? You have no clue what it takes to get this on the grid. In 2025 you will be in the same place you are right now if not worse. Just stay mute on the issue instead of opening your mouth and saying rubbish.
Geothermal energy would only be realised under this bumbling leadership when we see an image of a black angel.
Just before the 2019 general elections roads were blocked off to accommodate the testing of the geothermal plant. Dominicans were solemnly promised by StarBoy of lies and deception that geothermal energy was imminent.
Four years have elapsed and not even as much geothermal energy to power a light bulb. Let’s see these grandiose promissory announcements for exactly what they are – noting more than political theatrics.
“We have now gotten to the final stage of negotiating an agreement with a private
“we will be able to sign and to see construction commence later this year.”
“According to Dr. Henderson, the actual designs of the plant have started and the company has done the designs.”
“They have someone on the ground right now doing significant surveys and these are contracts they have already awarded,”
“there are two new wells with some of the best results anywhere in the world”
These are the trademarks of these folks lies in parliament.
I won’t hold my breath. This project has been an endless bottomless money pit. Every year we hear from this incompetent and corrupt government… NEXT YEAR! Problem is, next year never comes but the money still disappears. The next mega project, that is going to be a carbon copy of this one, is that Fata Morgana Airport. It will cost the citizens of DA lots of money over the next 50 years but there won’t be a single aircraft landing or taking off from there.
Who got all the money and continues to fleece the Dominican people and treasury with a whole bunch of bamboozelement and camouflage? They have been saying for over 10 years that the power will get on the grid next year, what year? So far all they have done is blow a lot of hot steam on the mountain and still no electricity maybe they are going to use majic. Maybe that is fake steam smoke disguised as steam.
Baboons, most of the money spent on the project does not come from the government treasury.Since the government took control of Domlec electricity has gone down,parasites will not know.MEME,master of gossip,fake news,propaganda,greed and lies.Tricks,election is in 2028,get off your high.It is those level of ignorance fed to the already UWP ignorant supporters.Just imagine the hundreds of dead people who have been voting for years,have always voted DLP.Not one dead person have returned from the grave to vote UWP,not even Linton father and mother.
Once again, you proof beyond any doubt that you are not right in your head.
Election year….this government is just shifting the goal every time….just to win an election…but one day one day ….trick will run out
DNO, how many more of these whoppers are you going to subject your readers to? I will not be surprised if the incumbent administration gives you a national award for your loyal support this coming Independence Day.
The true cost for this so called geothermal project will never be accurately declared, once the Skerrit Labour Party (SLP), is in office…Did anyone benefit from preparatory or exploratory works done around the Soufriere area? Who is that person? Where is he from?
By 2025, this project will be around 15 or 16 years old. Thats what a people get when they accept thievery, incompetence, bad management, and evil people to lead them!!
The people have much more power than the few people in power. This power of the masses is useless if it is not activated against their oppressors. Get up people off your derrieres and use your hands, feet and voices to assert your rights – proper healthcare, affordable energy, food security and safety of citizens, etc.
Dominicans will forever suffer and fall short of their fullest potential as long as they remain this docile and sheep-like.
Freedom is NEVER given by the oppressor, it MUST be fought for by the oppressed.
Stupes, Stupes and a Big STUPES.
From 2012 -2025. This is a laughable government, I would vote no confidence.
Who are the fools still voting them?