Government’s plan for developing geothermal energy in Dominica, is receiving strong support from the island’s sole electricity company, DOMLEC.
On Monday, the Company’s General Manager, Collin Cover told the launch of a two-day seminar on energy efficiency and renewable energy sensitization at the Fort Young Hotel, that Government’s proposed geothermal project offers the best long-term solution for renewable energy on the island.
“Our approach has been to support the Government on the Geothermal plan as we are firm in our conviction that this offers the best long term solution for renewable energy in Dominica, not just to the persons who can afford to purchase their own solar units, but this geothermal solution will give more affordable power to those persons who do not have the (money) to buy their own individual wind turbines,” he said.
Cover said presently DOMLEC spends way too much money on fuel to generate electricity.
“We in the power industry are very aware of the effect of the cost of electricity on the economy of the country, the economy of businesses and also its effect on individuals,” he noted.
He said “To date we have spent $46-million on fuel and this is 25% more than it has cost us to run the rest of the company,” he said. “So we spend way more money on fuel alone. We make no profit from high fuel prices it is simply a pass through that we have to transfer to the customers to be able to keep ourselves viable.”
The DOMLEC boss is optimistic that if Government’s geothermal energy project materializes, the cost of electricity on the island will be significantly reduced. He has warned however that even if energy is cheap, it should not be wasted.
Cover is suggesting that energy efficiency should be a way of life and that should be exhibited in the way things are done at the household and office level.
“The average household can cut its energy cost by approximately ten to fifteen percent through energy efficiency,” he said.
The General Manager of DOMLEC in his ending remarks encouraged the use of non fossil fuel sources of energy and to find ways to use less energy to do the same tasks.