The Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Energy, Vince Henderson, commented that the plant will provide 10 megawatts and make the nation a pioneer in this area, as it will be the first in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Scheduled for completion in the second half of 2025, the facility, located in Laudat, a valley surrounding the capital, will harness the country’s volcanic potential, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and provide clean and stable energy to approximately 23,000 homes, confirmed the Dominica Geothermal Development Company, a public-private partnership carrying out the project.

According to the Energy Minister, the plant’s commissioning will coincide with the start of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Decade of Action for Sustainable Energy Development, agreed upon by the relevant ministers of the member countries last February.

The goal, also according to Henderson, is to ensure that at least 30 percent of the region’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2035. The goal is supported by the Caribbean Development Bank, which is focused on strengthening capacity for this energy use in Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Dominica.

Geothermal power plants tap into underground heat reservoirs from which they extract steam or hot water, which drives turbines to generate electricity.

The steam used is condensed, and the hot water is cooled and re-injected underground to maintain the reservoir’s pressure and sustainability. This process provides a constant, renewable source of energy with minimal environmental impact.

ef/arc/ohh