Over 50 million dollars for geothermal plant in Dominica

Geothermal flow test in the Roseau Valley

Coordinator of the Dominica Geothermal Energy Project, Dr. Vince Henderson, says $51.45 million will be available for the construction of a geothermal power plant in 2019.

Henderson, who is also Dominica’s Ambassador to the United States of America and the OAS, said a financing package has been secured by the world bank of which a significant amount comes from grant financing.

“Today, what we essentially were negotiating with the world bank is the $10 million grant from the UK Department for International Development (DFID) which is being administered by the World Bank. So, that’s a grant. We don’t have to pay it back, its free money,” he stated.

He continued, “US$ 2 Million from SIDS DOCK is funds that, as chairman of SIDS DOCK, I was able to mobilize for Dominica. That also formed part of the package. $17.2 million from the world bank financing itself at 0.75 percent with a 10-year moratorium grace period and 15 years repayment, I mean you cannot get better than that.”

Henderson also mentioned a contingent grant which means that the money will be available for use when needed.

“We negotiated about $10 million from the Clean Technology Fund which is also being administered by the World Bank,” Henderson said.

Minister for Trade, Energy and Employment, Ian Douglas, said in December last year that the government was in a position to begin construction of a geothermal power plant in the Roseau Valley and the project could begin by the third quarter of 2019.

Douglas did not say then, where the money would come from.

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32 Comments

  1. jamie
    February 4, 2019

    More lies nothing these guys have to say is true,just keep fooling the people,but hey are desperate now.

  2. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    February 3, 2019

    During Hurricane Maria’s 160 MPH winds the PM was on the internet when all communications was down saying his roof was getting blown off, how was that possible to be on the internet when there was no connections? He must have been at his house in Florida unless he has magic internet.

    • Karl Orndem
      February 4, 2019

      He said his roof was the first to go in Morne Daniel. I self checking if he was walking around during the hurricane to see if others had gone before his. Maybe he has a crystal ball somewhere. Non the less, the PM needs to stop making these kinds of statements. Another one is dominica will be the first climate resilient country in the world. more horse raddish. That in itself is not a S.M.A.R.T objective. If anyopne knows what SMART objectives are, is that we know they must be TIMELY, as well as MEASURABLE. By when will we achieve this? How will you measure the efforts made, when you cannot even tell us how much was received in aid, whether in money or dry goods. right now, all i want them to do is to fix that piece of road after bath estate there they have falling for how much years with the metal drums infront them. IF that road falls that is IT for Roseau valley.

  3. UKDominican
    February 3, 2019

    This energy could be used to power a refinery in Dominica to process Venezuelan crude. I suspect this lies behind the plans of Russia and rheir Chinese partners in Rosneft, the Russion state oil company an has been added impetus thru. the sanction imposed by the USA on Venezuela, which would hit PDVSA particularly hard. Skerrit may have illusions of being the kingpin in this but he is just a paid pawn. In any case I doubt the USA would allow this to happen without inerference.

  4. Channel 1
    February 2, 2019

    This guy Vince has got to be one of the dumbest ambassadors out there representing a country to the US and OAS if he actually believes the nonsense he utters with the use of the phrase “free money” as seen in the article above.

    If he is not that dumb as his use of the phrase “free money” seems to suggest, why then is he using such a phrase? Doesn’t he know that nothing in this world is truly free?

    If his statement is meant to deceive, who is he trying to deceive? Dotish Labourites I wonder?

    ** Responding to my question – Duh. Obviously. One will struggle to find a more dotish set of people than these Skerrit-obsessed ‘Labourites’ & sycophants.

  5. Dominican
    February 2, 2019

    According to my reckoning this would bring the total we have spend on the development of our geothermal development thus far to
    more than E.C.$. 110 million. It is difficult to see how we will recouperate this investment with a diminished consumerbase and reduced industrial activity. Right now my calculations show that with an investment in solar energy my private electricity bill woul be lower, with the added benefit of independence from Domlec and recurring outages. I just hope there is no ulterior motive behind this race for geothermal energy with the company operating this facility ending up with a monopoly supply position, owned by already wealthy shareholders at the expense of poor Dominican consumers.

  6. Anon
    February 2, 2019

    That’s good geothermal, a brain-child of Crispin Gregoire is still on, wheww. The only difference is if brain boxes like Crispin with impeccable diplomatic credentials and experience were utilized to their full potential when he was ambassador Dominica would by now be upgrading this plant to several megawatts; and paying little for lights. Instead it is not even built but now being dangled before us like a pre-election carrot. Smh :cry:

  7. Belle bouef por
    February 2, 2019

    Cont’s: How does this family on a cop’s salary build /buy etc a $750K house? This sounds like the $5K/monthly salary million S assets story by Matt P. Villas etc. serious jokes from 2004 to present.
    There are much bigger stories on other affiliated of Neo DLP.
    Contracts, dumpers excavators Crawler loaders, hotels etc we all know about. There are people with larger incomes than Kaka doc/Asif Ali. Take a Guess who they are?
    We have our Jose Manuel – Rosales-Zelaya on $ 35k with other expenses/month- when is he going to be sent into exile to Venezuela in Pyjamas ? Can’t wait will it be before June 2019 as the real Jose Manuel – Rosales-Zelaya was in June 2009? a 10 yr anniversary of sorts! may 29th could be c
    Kool without the gang. 40yrs after May 29th 1979.

  8. Belle bouef por jeff
    February 2, 2019

    Coordinator of the Dominica Geothermal Energy Project, Dr. Vince Henderson, says $51.45 million will be available for the construction of a geothermal power plant in 2019.
    If the World Bank etc did not stipulate the terms The funds would be an Asif Ali Zerdari type negotiation under the Neo DLP administration. Asif Ali is known as Mr.20% in Pakistan for his negotiations when his wife was head of state .He took 20% for self it has been said b4 negotiations begins.Here in DA we have the scandalous CBI monies to the treasury in a similar state with these Passport Reps( mostly lawyers. There ar folks who are no longer employed at ej banks and are aids to the middle people for thepassport pushers who get big salaries and can go on to build huge houses around pond casse Sylvania area ej general knowledge by peeps with their ears close to the ground and those walking with their eyes open. Should we call them 2%trs? lol . If a spouse is a cop and the other spouse is unemployed…

  9. RandyX
    February 2, 2019

    Lies, lies and more lies! Why now, only weeks before an election? People of Dominica don’t allow this rogue government to fool you any longer. Skerrit and his ministers have to go!

  10. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 2, 2019

    When Dominica born Frank D. St Hilaire  built the West Indies (WIOC) Oil Company in Antigua in Antigua in the 1970’s it cost him forty ($40,000,000.00) for the few fabricate tanks and pipe lines still standing at Fry’s Hill in Antigua.

    Oil were brought in and refined: A geothermal plant is a lot more expensive to build: Fools always rush in where Angels fear to thread!

    While they collect their pay from the blood of the nation, the people and country sinks deeper in poverty; no employment, as there are no industries, more than eighty (80%) of the people of the country are out of work, many left the country because of no employment opportunities, due to none existing industries, no modern technologies.

    Everybody depends on a government hand out, which source is the sale of Dominica passports, some survive on the barrel industry (food sent in barrels from America) to their family and friends. Ours is a bankrupt country which eventually will collapse!

  11. Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
    February 2, 2019

    As sophisticated, and technical it is to build a geothermal electricity generating plant; if it only takes fifty-one ($51,000,000.00) million dollars to developed and construct an geothermal plant in Dominica, that will have to be another first in the history of such engineering.

    I suspect somebody in Dominica are unable to count money, or certainly does not know the value of money: this is  simply another political hoopla, another dead on arrival project. By the time it is all over the pseudo doctor will claim “the operation was successful, nevertheless the patient died!”

    As long as they are paid by the puppet master Sir Knight doctor Punjab/Duquesne that Dominica Mountain Chicken Crapaud  Mentality, they are eager to rattle off all sort of nonsense which makes absolutely no sense!

    This is why Dominica is the joke of the century.

    Dominica is not respected anywhere on the planet, because of these incompetent, ignorant clowns who claims to represent the…

  12. John Jay
    February 2, 2019

    What, 50 million for geothermal and in all the bridges that destroy during 5he hurricane not one that being repaired or not hear8ng how much thats allocated to it. This man is living in the U.S.A and want to sag this and that why don’t he come back to live here in DA

  13. shrewd
    February 1, 2019

    Almost 100 million spent so far and not 1 megahertz of electricity have been generated, after almost 9 years.

  14. Self
    February 1, 2019

    How much have been spent on geothermal so far?

  15. Edward R
    February 1, 2019

    everything you try to do in Dominica is a problem, dont do they say you lazy, promise something they say you lying. now all tall is talk but when people come and put false name you just know that talking a set of crap. every body big so why you putting a false name to make your point

    • Neville
      February 4, 2019

      No that’s not the problem. It’s people like you and your red clinic friends that is the problem!

  16. Pipo
    February 1, 2019

    Let it get into your skull people. Vince is not a Dr. He is a wannabee replacement for Skerrit. That is a Henderson trait. Grostete since their foebears came from Scotland to rule us.

  17. Fraction
    February 1, 2019

    Dominica always needs someone else to pay for everything. It has become the new normal. The ‘free money’ from the UK was not free to the UK taxpayers. Perhaps you ought to be more respectful in your choice of words and actually thank people for the grants. That would be a novelty.

  18. Snake In The Grass
    February 1, 2019

    So we now have 5 hospitals, 5 International airports, 5 medical schools to replace Ross, and 7 geothermal plants. yes we know they all in the sky and not one on the ground but that’s our definition of progress. Let’s rewind a little.
    1. In 2012, Rayburn Blackmoore, said construction of a geothermal plant would begin in the first quarter of 2013.
    2. in 2012, 6 Roosevelt Skerrit, told us the plant could in operation by 2014. Since DLP won the election Geothermal date shifted in prep for the 2020 elections: So,
    3.In April 2016, Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit emphasized the government’s commitment to the harnessing and development of geothermal energy in Dominica.
    4. In 2015, Ian Douglas said the construction of a small geothermal plant is to begin by 2017.
    5. In Dec 2016, Vince Henderson, said the United Kingdom had committed $7-million grant Read all the lies here: https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/economy-development/geothermal-project-to-get-funding-from-world-bank/

  19. Bring back the kidnapped Dominican parrots
    February 1, 2019

    They have been saying this nonsense, bamboozle and con job for at least 10 years especially at election time and the masses fall for the con as usual then complain when they get SHAFTED by the people they voted into office.

  20. Annon
    February 1, 2019

    In other words, the World Bank owns it. Then again is it is involved in the ownership of DA anyway. That is why they finance it.

  21. DEE
    February 1, 2019

    Election crap again .
    Vince please tell us then, how many millions of Dominicans money the Government claims to have already spent on geothermal , you need to ask the Prime Minister himself for those figures, as there seem to be no auditing . figures will just flow .
    One day the strainer being used must be taken away and, if monies cannot be recovered their right hand cut off before being jailed .

  22. Sisserou
    February 1, 2019

    Really Vince, only now. Everybody is now singing for their supper. :mrgreen:

  23. Country Man
    February 1, 2019

    This is enough money to make Dominica 100% renewable with Solar and Hydro. Why sink this money in one technology and have one general point of energy generation? We need to think about resilience – our overused word. multiple solar assets at different location allows for a more resilient grid infrastructure. It also creates more employment and it is way cheaper to own and operate.

    The world bank has not been the best when it comes to development projects – they know how waste money. At the end of the day it should not be what the world bank want but what the customer (Dominica) needs.

    • Annon
      February 2, 2019

      The world bank owns DA. When you can’t pay your debts, they own you.

    • February 2, 2019

      Country Man, I totally agree.

      As long as we distribute electricity and telecommunications on poles we are are at the mercy of every hurricane. And yes; it should be what is best in the long term interests of Dominica and not what conveniently fits into the agenda of outside loaning agencies.

  24. FORKDEM
    February 1, 2019

    so every election allu remembering geo thermal and international airport…. dominicans just like crayfish, their ….. in their head.

  25. %
    February 1, 2019

    Yes Vince, i even thought that you were in Timbocktu…
    Election melee….I don’t listen to neither you, nor Skerrit nor Maduro…
    Your waste of time!
    After the election,the new party will act accordingly…
    You all delivered by a body blow to Dominica’s progress from 2004-2019,lazy set of MISLEADERS.
    Skerrit Must Go
    Skerrit Must Go
    LAZY Skerrit Must Go Now

  26. Ibo France
    February 1, 2019

    Just do it! Stop all this prevarication. People are absolutely tired of this government’s spurious declarations and assurances. Only the crazies now give credence to these hyperbolic statements. These pronouncements from the leader and his sycophantic adherents do irreparable damage to the truth. The innumerable lies that have been told by these degenerates have splintered the people into political tribes. Let’s vote for people who would unite and not divide for united we stand and divided we fall. The country needs healing. Skerrit and his loyalists who have practised politics of personal destruction CANNOT bring cohesion to this severely divided nation. They are the architects of disunity and misery. Think about it.

  27. Ti Garcon
    February 1, 2019

    Vunce sounds so full of himself- wasnt this geothermal plant supposed to be operational since 2013?
    and then its just been delay to every other year since?

  28. AA
    February 1, 2019

    Boy what a waste of a government squandering the resources of the country in a vailed effort to win an election but …….. the future of this country. Dominicans skeritt children will not be here to face the misery, it will be you and your children that will be facing the misery whilst his children are in the US leaving the life. How can you spend all of this money and not achieve anything substantial for the country. If this was properly planned and implemented then we would be generating up to 80% of our electricity needs from renewable right now instead we have some mad men thieving the resources of the country and laundering it under the guise of geothermal. Bunch of idiots

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