Dominica Government Confident in 10-Megawatt Geothermal Power Plant

Dominica Government Signs Contract for 10-Megawatt Geothermal Power Plant

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC-The Dominica government says it remains confident that the 10-megawatt 10-megawatt geothermal energy power plant will be commissioned by 2O26 after signing a contract worth almost US$40 million with an Indian company.

Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson said that while steady progress has been made on the geothermal energy development project, developments in the Middle East are likely to affect the project timeline.

Milestone Reached in Geothermal Energy Development Project

He said two weeks ago, the Dominica Geothermal Development Company signed a contract for US$38.9 million with the Indian-based company that will construct 10 kilometers of transmission lines with substations from Laudat, a small village in the center of the island, located between three mountains, to Fond Cole, on the outskirts of the capital.

"We are very excited about that milestone because it means that the company has started mobilizing, and very shortly, we will see actual action on the ground so that construction can begin within the next several weeks," Henderson said.

"This is an important milestone we have reached, and work is also ongoing for the construction of the power plant at Laudat, and a local company has been awarded the contract for the site preparation….,” Henderson said.

Project Timeline and Expectations

"We expect that by October of this year, most of the equipment will arrive on the island, and by early next year, we can see construction in earnest for the first 10-megawatt geothermal plant," Henderson said.

But Henderson said that while the project is scheduled, it is hoped to be completed by the end of 2025; there have been several challenges, “especially with the conflict in the Middle East, considering that most of our equipment comes out of Israel, and a lot of the personnel as well for that (Indian) company are based in Israel.

"So despite these challenges, we still are on target, on schedule, and we hope we can have the plant commissioned by early 2026, once construction is completed by December 2025," Henderson added.

Background on Geothermal Energy Development Project

In April this year, Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre defended the government’s decision to seek a loan of over EC$100 million (One EC dollar = 0.37 cents) for constructing the 10-megawatt geothermal energy plant, saying it is in keeping with its plans to accelerate the efforts to bring geothermal-generated electricity to the island’s grids by December 2025.

He said the current electricity and distribution network, owned by the Dominica Electricity Company Limited (DOMLEC), needs more capacity to transport the electricity generated by the geothermal plants. The new resilient network would transmit the electricity generated by the 10-megawatt power plant and can transmit the electricity from the three hydroelectric power plants in the neighboring Roseau Valley.

Conclusion

The Dominica government remains confident that the 10-megawatt geothermal power plant will be commissioned by 2026, despite challenges posed by the Middle East conflict. The project is expected to bring significant benefits to the island’s energy sector, including reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels and increased resilience to natural disasters.

FAQs

What is the expected completion date for the 10-megawatt geothermal power plant?
- The expected completion date is December 2025, with the plant being commissioned by early 2026.
What are the challenges faced by the project?
- The project is facing challenges due to the conflict in the Middle East, which is affecting the availability of equipment and personnel from Israel.
What are the benefits of the project?
- The project is expected to bring reduced reliance on imported fossil fuels, increased resilience to natural disasters, and a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the budget for the project?
- The budget for the project is approximately US$40 million.