NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC – Prime Minister Phillip Davis says the construction of three new power stations for Andros will give the island a modern, reliable supply, able to meet what it needs now and in the future to sustain growth on the island.
“We are not only repairing the past. We are preparing for what we believe Andros can become. Since coming to office, my administration has treated energy as a central issue.
Prime Minister Phillip Davis
When electricity fails, everything feels more difficult,” Davis told a ceremony providing an update on the power purchase agreement between Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Andros Renewable Energy Company Limited, a fully Bahamian-owned company that will construct three new power stations.
Prime Minister Davis said that the agreement, signed in November last year, speaks directly to the daily lives of the people of Andros and to the future of the island’s economy.
“For years, families and businesses in Andros have lived with power cuts, unstable supply, and the worry that comes every time the lights flicker. People have had to run generators, throw out spoiled food from fridges, and lose working hours and income. Investors have sometimes thought twice.
“What we are doing today is dealing with those problems in a serious, long-term way.
The three new power stations will give Andros a modern, reliable supply, able to meet what the island needs now and what it will need in the years ahead as Andros grows,” he told the ceremony.
Prime Minister Davis said that clear aims guide the energy reform project of his administration: bringing down electricity costs for households and businesses, and replacing old, inefficient power plants across The Bahamas with better, more efficient systems.
“This agreement moves each of these aims forward for Andros. New plants will use more advanced technology and improved fuel efficiency, which will support lower operating costs. Stronger, modern systems mean fewer outages and fewer sudden breakdowns,” Davis said, adding, “a dependable grid supports new investments in fishing, farming, tourism, and small businesses.
He said he was also encouraged by the fact that a Bahamian-owned company is undertaking the project, adding, “That tells us that Bahamian engineers, Bahamian financiers, and Bahamian entrepreneurs are prepared to step up and take on big responsibilities.
“It keeps more of the value created here at home, supporting local jobs, local skills, and local contractors. This is the kind of partnership we want across our islands: government setting the direction, BPL held to clear standards of performance and accountability, and Bahamian companies bringing their expertise and initiative to the table.”
Prime Minister Davis said that the project Andro will result in real change in various communities, adding, “We are also very conscious of the wider context.
“Fuel prices remain volatile, and climate impacts are increasing. As a small island nation, we feel those pressures keenly. That is why our national energy reform is aimed at cleaner, more efficient, and more resilient systems.
“Each new investment, including what we mark today, must help move us in that direction and create a platform that can support increasing use of renewables and smarter grids over time,” Davis said.
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