Delegates to the Guadeloupe conference visit a geothermal site. The Hon Mr A Michael Perkins appears extreme right

Charlestown Nevis (May 10, 2004) -- A US$10 million fund aimed at facilitating the research of geothermal energy has been proposed by the Organisation of American States (OAS) under which Nevis will be one of the first beneficiaries.

 

The Minister of Physical Planning, Infrastructural Development, Natural Resources and the Environment, Communications and Works, Public Utilities and Posts, the Hon Mr Michael Perkins, has said that there is the possibility of a US$30 million geothermal electricity plant being built on Nevis.

 

Minister Perkins told Government Information Service that an OAS-sponsored conference was held towards the end of April in Guadeloupe to look at the issue of geothermal energy, which was attended by delegates from Dominica, St. Lucia and St. Kitts/Nevis.

 

“The Organisation of American States has put together a technical team and has sourced funds from the United Nations and also from the governments of Germany and France to go towards further research in the field of geothermal energy,” noted Mr Perkins.

 

He explained that geothermal energy is found way beneath the earth’s surface and the idea is to tap into it and bring that energy to the surface, which then would be able to generate electricity. He observed that evidence gathered so far suggests that Nevis has by far a greater potential for finding such an energy source than St. Kitts.

 

“On a successful project it is expected that much benefits would be derived to all,” reported the Minister. “By far the most important benefit would be the fact that such energy would be produced at a much lower cost and so naturally home users, every man woman and child would be able to pay less for the usage of electricity on island.”

 

All research should have been conducted in about eighteen months’ time on the three island countries represented at the conference. Following the research and hopefully the finding of such energy resource some ten million dollars US would be made available for potential developers to carry out necessary drilling operations so as to reach the resource.

 

“It is a three to four year project as designed by the Organisation of American States,” stated Mr Perkins, who was accompanied at the Guadeloupe conference by Mr Elford Felix, Nevis Electricity Company’s generation engineer and Mr Mark Brantley, NIA’s legal consultant. “They have been able to attract some of the best minds and brains throughout the world in terms of the scientists who would be working on board.”

 

He observed that there would be a continuing education campaign where the subject of geothermal energy would be taught in the schools, and information would be given out through various forms such as panel discussions and debates. Accordingly, the University of the West Indies is expected to become involved in the education process.

 

“The project for the Administration is a new one, but it is an exciting one specifically because of the vast benefits that can redound to the people of Nevis,” concluded Mr Perkins.