By Monique Washington
The Premier of Nevis the Hon. Vance Amory announced on Thursday during the 10th Annual Consultation on the Economy that Nevis Renewable Energy International (NREI) will soon bring drilling rigs into Nevis to begin setting to produce geothermal energy.
Nevis financial institution representatives attended the event at the Nevis Performing Arts Theater (NEPAC).
“The developers that we have contracted to develop the program here in Nevis will have their drill rigs in Nevis at the end of September or at latest the middle of October,” Premier Amory said. “They will then carry out the necessary exploration to complete the production wells.”
The Minister of Tourism Hon. Mark Brantley issued a press release announcing Nevis will “switch on “geothermal by December 2017.”
“That means that when the plant switches on in December 2017, 100 per cent of Nevis’ electricity will be supplied by renewables,” the minister said.
Former Minister of Energy Carlise Powell, in a previous interview with The Observer, doubted Nevis will get geothermal energy before 2018. In addition to being drilled, Powell explained, production wells have to be tested. He noted that besides the drilling, materials to build the geothermal plant must be manufactured and shipped to Nevis in bits and pieces. Powell steered the first geothermal project in Nevis with West Indies Power (WIP).
In the meantime, Premier Amory noted the Concerned Citizens Movement-led Nevis Island Administration is still looking at converting waste to energy in the near future.
“We have seen some a little hiccup in the matter of waste to energy, although there has been some benefit we still think this is an important aspect of our renewable energy or our alternative energy to the use of fossil fuel,” the Premier said.
Premier Amory said that before the tourism season begins in November, a 2.5 megawatt generator will be online “to ensure that during the high season when electricity consumption is at its highest we will not leave our people stranded.”
