ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson says the Government of Dominica is ready to begin constructing a 10-kilowatt geothermal power plant to supplement the electricity supply from the Dominica Electricity Company (DOMLEC).
The Dominica government is said to have invested nearly US$50 million so far in geothermal research, and Dr. Henderson said, on a recent radio program, that tests done at wells drilled in Laudat, an area in the center of the island, have shown that there is enough geothermal resource potential to transmit and distribute throughout Dominica.
“Having done that, we have gotten to the stage where we are ready to build the power plant and to get the power to DOMLEC through a transmission system which will take us from the Roseau Valley to Fond Cole,” Dr. Henderson said.
He added, ” We have made great progress and are very excited about where we are now because we are at the stage where we are ready to start work on the power plant.”
On December 5, 2023, the Dominica government and DOMLEC signed an agreement with Ormat Technologies Inc. of Nevada, USA, to finance the plant’s construction operation and maintain the power plant and geothermal wells for 25 years.
The agreement, signed on the margins of COP28 in Dubai, said the Government would maintain ownership of the wells, lands, and other assets it has invested in.
The energy minister said the government chose to invest in geothermal energy not because it was easy but because of its potential to transform Dominica.
“So, we have the potential, and we see how it can help to transform Dominica’s energy landscape, but also we can change things around,” he said, adding that it is one of the most resilient forms of renewable energy.
“Solar and wind are good; they have their place, but there are also some serious challenges that geothermal doesn’t have.”
“Once you drill, you build a proper housing or facility for that plant. You don’t have to worry about hurricanes. It’s not like panels that can be blown away or broken if some flying object knocks it up,” said the energy minister.
The Dominica government has explored the transition prospects to geothermal energy sources for over 20 years. Dr. Henderson said he is excited about the prospects of removing the fuel surcharge, which is often the primary cost imposed on consumer’s electricity bills.
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