The Minister for Energy, Dr. Vince Henderson, has revealed that $15 million has been expended on the geothermal plant being constructed in Laudat. During a media tour of the facility, Henderson said the construction is progressing according to plan and that the contractors have been able to overcome most of the challenges they earlier encountered.
Also present at the media tour was the Minister for Environment, Cozier Frederick, who said the government has achieved another significant milestone in the construction of the geothermal plant. He agreed with Henderson that testing the second production well at the plant has been successful, and that consultants working on the well will submit their reports in the next few weeks.
Henderson announced that the contractors have completed the drilling of the re-injection well and that it has the capacity to facilitate the generation of 10 megawatts of electricity. Having completed this stage, he revealed that the contractors will progress to constructing the power plant facility.
He said that when the project is completed, electricity will become cheaper in the country and that new businesses will be able to thrive with renewable energy. He added that paid employment and entrepreneurship will flourish in Dominica, and that more citizens will be lifted out of poverty with greater economic prosperity.
Meanwhile, social activist Atherton Martin has criticized the government for constructing the geothermal plant in Laudat. The environmentalist said the government violated industrial regulations by constructing a geothermal plant close to communities inhabited by people. He stated that a hydro-electric power facility should be considered for raising electricity megawatts without endangering the safety of people in their local communities.
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