TOPIC 'Geothermal Energy' on Oct 21, 2008 (CEST)
Dominica Forming A Strategy To Utilize Geothermal Resources
 The Government of Dominica is looking at strategies to develop the country’s geothermal energy resources. The work is slated to progress in two phases. The first phase is a study to determine the location, the amount, and the geophysical processes involved in understanding the feasibility of utilizing geothermal resources in Dominica. The second phase will continue to analyze if the geothermal sources are appropriate for generating a large volume of electricity and undertaking test drilling (expected in June 2009).
Funding for the first phase of this project is from the European Union’s regional development financing program. An agreement called the INTERREG III B allows for the financing between the partnership countries of Guadeloupe and Martinique, along with other French development colleagues. A report is expected by late November 2008 and is anticipated to address the questions of: 1) the quality of geothermal reserve in the Wotton Waven area; 2) the projected environmental impact of the plan; 3) the legal issues involved; and 4) an update to the economic findings associated with the project.
Financing for the second phase of instituting a geothermal energy plan in Dominica will come from the European Union, with assistance from the “Agence Francaise de Developpement and the Fonds Francais pour L’Environment Mondial (FFEM).” Along with the anticipated combined sum from these three entities of 5.5 million Euros, another 3 million Euros may also be invested by the European Investment Bank (EIB). When agreed upon and enacted in January 2008, this project was expected to take three years to see the fruits of the analysis.
At the end of the second phase, the objectives desired to be reached include: 1) determining if, in fact, the Wotton Waven location will provide sufficient generation of electricity to warrant the construction of a geothermal plant; 2) determining if an underwater transmission source will deliver part of the energy output from the geothermal resources efficiently to Guadeloupe and Martinique; 3) developing an investment prospectus to help build the actually geothermal facility; and 4) determining what technical assistance will be needed and who will provide the necessary assistance to carry out the implementation of the final plan.
Sherry Irvin
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
Technologie Park 13
33100 Paderborn
Germany
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