CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - SABA Energy Commissioner Bruce Zagers on Saturday (Jan. 24) toured local geothermal drilling sites amidst reports by the Head of West Indies Power that construction of a production plant begins here in April.

Zagers said the progress already made in Nevis has inspired his small island [of five square miles] and government to embark on geothermal drilling. 

He told reporters that Saba’s potential to produce geothermal energy has already been explored and a large reservoir has been identified.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of West Indies Power Holdings, Kerry McDonald said Saba is well positioned and once the geothermal energy is produced, Saba would be able to supply neighboring Dutch islands.

Meanwhile, McDonald said construction of the Nevis production plant begins in April. He said the construction process would see the deployment of 60 experts and 40 local apprentices.

He said that when completed, the Nevis plant would be able to supply geothermal power to St. Kitts, the US and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, among other islands.

McDonald said there is a great demand for geothermal power in the region and in the world as a whole. He said Saba has a capacity to produce more geothermal energy than Nevis and “the island has been encouraged to produce by the progress the island has seen in Nevis”.

The CEO said all the drilling equipment would be shipped to Saba. 

Also present when the Saba Energy Commissioner visited was Nevis Junior Minister of Communication and Works, the Hon. Carlisle Powell, and West Indies Power General Manager Rawlinson Isaac.