The Minister of Energy, Dr. Vince Henderson, has revealed that geothermal power will become available in Dominica in 2025. In his own words, Henderson said “our target date for getting geothermal power on the grid is 2025.”
The minister, however, made it clear that this target date is contigent upon finalizing construction agreement with a private developer. He disclosed that the contract has been negotiated, and that the agreement will be signed for construction to begin in a few weeks. He added that it will be a private-partnership agreement.
Henderson said the construction design for the geothermal plant is complete, and that extensive surveys are ongoing at the Roseau Valley site. He revealed that the company that got the contract award is currently working things out at the site, and that drilling activity at the site is successful.
He added that two additional wells at the geothermal site are working fine, and that backup wells also exist in the area.
The energy minister also made it known that the government might have to construct new transmission lines. According to him, DOMLEC transmission lines running from Roseau Valley to Fond Cole may not be capable of carrying hydro plus geothermal power.
“So, we must invest in new transmission lines and upgrade the capacity of those lines from 11 kilovolts,” he said. “We are moving to 33 kilovolts and 69.”
Henderson made this revelation at the 2023-2024 National Budget debate.
So far, more than $50 million has been expended in exploring geothermal potential and facilitating the construction of a plant in Dominica. The idea for the geothermal plant was first muted in 2012 and over the years, the UK and New Zealand among other countries have contributed to the funding of the geothermal facility in the country.
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