Martinique Will be Sending a Geothermal Technical Team to Dominica
ROSEAU, Dominica – Martinique is to send a technical team to Dominica as the two islands seek to further enhance cooperation in the area of geothermal energy, according to a statement issued by the Office of the Prime Minister.
Dominica geothermal energy project (File Photo)It said that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit held talks with the President of the Executive Council of Martinique, Serge Letchimy, on Monday, “to further explore cooperation on geothermal energy development” and that the meeting also discussed proposals for a commercial agreement with Martinique for the sale of renewable energy.
“Dominica is developing a geothermal plant in the Roseau Valley to increase the use of renewable energy in the provision of cheaper electricity, through the responsible exploitation of the island’s geothermal resource,” the statement said.
It said that Prime Minister Skerrit assured Letchimy of Dominica’s technical capacity to share the valuable resource with the neighboring French territory at a competitive price.
“Martinique will send a technical team to Dominica for further talks and to observe the geothermal development. Mr. Letchimy also signaled his intention to make a case for a “Declaration of Intention to Cooperate‟ to the Martinique Assembly by the end of March,” the statement added.
“We are ready to receive the delegation on this important visit. We have enjoyed very long and mutually beneficial relations with Martinique and we are very keen on partnering on geothermal energy,” Skerrit said.
In 2019, the World Bank approved US$27 million project to support the construction of a seven MW small geothermal power plant in Dominica, which aims to increase the share of renewables, diversify the country’s energy matrix, and identify a clear road map for private sector investment in geothermal development.
The Geothermal Risk Mitigation Project is expected to significantly lower electricity costs in Dominica and increase the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix from 25 to 51 percent, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 38,223 tons of CO2 per year. It will also assess the potential to export home grown geothermal energy to its neighbors, the World Bank noted.
The project will be implemented by the Dominica Geothermal Development Company Ltd and is financed by a US$17.2 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA), US$9.95 million from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), as well as grants from the UK’s Department for International Development – US$10 million from DFID and US$2 million the Small Island Developing States DOCK Initiative – and technical assistance from the Government of New Zealand and the Agence Française de Développement.
