Energy Minister Vince Henderson says Dominica is getting close to establishing its Geothermal Plant, but Former Agriculture Minister Athie Martin sees possible misdirection by the energy minister

​Energy Minister Vince Henderson claims Dominica is getting close to the last phase of the construction of a 10 MW Geothermal Power Plant in Laudat. Henderson acknowledged that Dominica has taken the longest time to develop a Geothermal Plant, but the time has come to complete the Geothermal plant.

​Energy Minister, Vince Henderson.
 
Meantime, Former Minister of Agriculture & Environmentalist Atherton Martin questions the return on investment for the government’s effort to construct a small 10 MW Geothermal Power Plant - which would in the first instance - only cover 50% of Dominica’s Energy generation capability. Dominica’s peak energy requirements are 22 MW of electricity.
 
Speaking on Q95 FM Radio today, Martin said the amount of money spent by the government on this project has grown to a very large sum, and he is not sure whether the plant will last as long as Mr Henderson claims, to even get any return on investment - as there are important factors that can quickly reduce the operational expectancy of a geothermal plant.
 
In October of 2023, Dominica had spent some USD $55 Million on the Geothermal Project. To date, the amount spent is US $92.12 Million, inclusive of parliament's approval of a loan of EC $103.95 Million from the IDA, to install transmission/distribution lines from Laudat to DOMLEC’s Fond Cole power station.

​Former Agriculture Minister & Environmentalist, Atherton Martin