Saint Lucia’s geothermal exploration is moving forward, with work now taking place in several communities as the government tries to determine whether the island can eventually generate electricity from heat beneath the ground.
At his first pre-Cabinet press briefing since becoming a minister, Physical Development and Public Utilities Minister Keithson Charles said, “Geothermal exploration is now ongoing in the Saltibus, Fond St Jacques and Belle Plaine area,” and described the project as “quite advanced”.
The World Bank-funded undertaking is still in the exploration stage, which means Saint Lucia is trying to establish whether the underground resource is strong enough to be used for electricity generation.
Charles said a project implementation team is already in place and consultations have been held with residents and farmers in the areas where the work is taking place.
Some of that work has required people to be relocated. He said two families have been displaced and replacement homes are being built for them.
“It’s not just about putting someone out of the property and moving forward with the project,” Charles said, noting that there are rules governing how affected residents are treated.
The next stage will involve civil works, including road construction and expansion, as well as preparing the well pads where drilling rigs will eventually sit.
Charles said the bidding process is nearing completion, and contractors are expected to be brought on board so that work can move into the drilling phase.
That drilling will help determine what geothermal resource Saint Lucia actually has.
For Charles, the bigger goal is to reduce the island’s exposure to fluctuating global oil prices.
“We look at the volatility in fuel prices. Fuel prices are changing all of the time, and we are victims of it,” he said.
He said that if Saint Lucia can successfully harness geothermal energy, it could bring greater stability to electricity costs.
“If we can harness a good resource, we can actually stabilise the cost of electricity moving forward,” Charles said.
He cautioned that this would not necessarily mean cheap electricity, but it could make bills more predictable for households and businesses trying to plan their expenses.
Charles said the government is also considering other renewable energy sources, including solar and wind, as part of the broader push to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
