Dominica delegation to discuss geothermal project in Paris

Iceland Drilling rig on site in Dominica, Caribbean (source: ISOR)

Alexander Richter 19 Jun 2013

This week, a delegation of four members led by the country’sPrime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit will be meeting with the French Development Agency (AFD) for discussions at the agency’s headquarter in Paris, France.

“The delegation includes Public Works Minister Rayburn Blackmoore, permanent secretary in the Minister of Public Works Lucienne Blackmoore, Ambassador Vince Henderson, and chairman of the Technical Committee on Geothermal Energy Development Edward Lambert.

AFD has been a strong supporter of Dominica’s geothermal development efforts. The agency has provided at highly concessionary rates and conditions for the exploratory phase of Dominica`s geothermal development programme and has agreed to provide financing for the drilling of the production well in the amount of EUR 6.5 million ($8.8 million).

An additional EUR 2 million  ($2.7 million) will be granted for enhancing and strengthening the operations of the Project Management Unit.

The meeting will review the experience of AFD in financing geothermal and other renewable resource projects and will delve into the legal, institutional and regulatory arrangements that underpin the development and commercialization of the resource.

The government team will brief the meeting on Dominica`s overall strategy for developing geothermal energy and outline plans for first establishing a small power plant to supply electricity to the domestic market.

The meeting will also focus on the structuring of a meeting of donors to be held in Dominica with the principal aim of inviting the country`s development partners to continue their collaboration with the government in developing the geothermal resource.”

Source: Dominica Vibes