BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Federal Government will be receiving over US$300,000 from the Caribbean Development Bank to aid in the pursuance of geothermal projects in St. Kitts and Nevis.
According to a recent statement, the Board of Directors of the Bank had approved the use of US$325,500 by CDB for the benefit of the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis to identify environmental and social impacts in the design of a geothermal energy (GE) exploratory test-drilling project.
Just recently the Nevis Island Administration had informed that an overseas investor has indicated his interest in the Geothermal Project on that island, thus they have recommenced drilling operations.
In St. Kitts, the government is moving apace with its push to develop renewable energy, but without retardation of that of sister isle Nevis.
The support, which was made available through the Canadian Support to the Energy Sector in the Caribbean (CSES-C) Fund, is also expected to assist with the development of a framework to manage project implementation sustainably.
“The environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) will support decision-makers in determining how to proceed with project development. The findings will inform: 1. selection of the best location for exploratory test wells; 2. project considerations to reduce negative impacts on environmental resources; 3. and approaches for taking into account social dimensions such as poverty, gender, employment and livelihoods,” the CDB statement read.
Head of the Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Unit, CDB, Tessa Williams-Robertson was quoted in the statement as saying: “St. Kitts and Nevis, like the majority of CDB Borrowing Member Countries, is seeking to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuel, and improve national energy security and competitiveness by increasing the deployment of sustainable energy options. Of the renewable energy options, it is believed that GE holds the greatest prospect for transforming St. Kitts and Nevis’ energy matrix, directly displacing diesel fuel-based generation.”
Shortly after taking office, Minister with Responsibility for Energy, Hon. Ian Liburd told reporters that it was the Federation’s dependency on fossil fuel and high debt incurred with the Petro Caribe that gave birth to the push for renewable energy, including Geothermal.
Currently, the government is in the process of making payments to lower the debt and alleviate further interests.
Williams-Robertson explained that the findings of the ESIA would provide the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis with “critical, evidence-based environmental and social baseline data and impact analysis to inform decisions required for the exploratory test-drilling phase of GE development”.
The intervention is consistent with the bank’s strategic objective of supporting inclusive growth and sustainable development within its Borrowing Member Countries, the statement said.
