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Preparatory works are ongoing in the Roseau Valley for the drilling of two geothermal wells in Laudat to advance Dominica’s Geothermal Energy Project.

One well is earmarked for the reinjection of geothermal fluids during power plant production and the other will be used as a reserve production well.

Minister for Planning, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Renewable Energy, Hon. Dr. Vince Henderson led a delegation on a site visit on Wednesday, May 18 2022.

Dr. Henderson noted that when complete the geothermal plant will transform Dominica’s energy sector.

“We are fortunate that we are so far ahead. Dominica is the most advanced in developing geothermal energy in any sovereign small island state in the world. This has been a very challenging project but is something that will help Dominica to transform its energy sector but also economic development and ease up the pressure to our households” Dr. Henderson stated.

The Minister explained that preparation and construction work can proceed full steam ahead as a lot of the ground work has been completed over the years.

“This project is really at a stage where it is just moving towards the finish line. Because we have done most of the difficult work. Over the years we have tested for the resource, we know it’s there and that is why we are preparing to drill another well right here on this site and we will be drilling another well lower down. But we will be drilling this well so that we can have more steam which is what we will be using to generate the power,” the Renewable Energy Minister explained.

Dr. Henderson went on to state that barring any delays, the plant should be completed in the next two years, and will soon after be integrated into DOMLEC’s power grid.

“We have already identified the company that will construct the power plant, and they will actually come to construct the site and that will take about eighteen months so with our best efforts we are looking for another two years down the road. It takes times several months to prepare the site, to start drilling, test the wells make sure they are working well and then we can actually see construction begin.  So in another two years, which will take us to mid-2024, we looking forward to getting the power unto the DOMLEC grid,” Dr. Henderson added.

Meanwhile, CEO of ACE Engineering Ltd, Mr. Anthony Leblanc gave an overview of the works currently underway at the site.

“This well pad is supposed to be constructed a 4,800 square metres or about 51,000 square feet in area. It is the site for the drill contractor to drill the well. We have one tank which has already been constructed and we have another one to be constructed. These tanks are for environmental reasons to make sure the runoff water from the well tank. We also have a mud pit. Everything that is drilled, all the waste goes back into that mud pit to be purified and taken out of site for environmental reasons,” Mr. LeBlanc explained.

He added that construction work at the site is expected to be complete within eight weeks.

Approximately thirty persons are currently employed on the site, with a backup workforce available at the site in Wallhouse.

The works are funded by the World Bank and supervised by leading Icelandic geothermal consulting firms, ISOR and Mannvit, with monitoring support from local companies, Sorrell Consulting and Eclipse.

The Dominica Geothermal Development Company Ltd. is providing oversight and environmental and social monitoring of the project.