by staff writer
ROSEAU, Dominica, Mar 31, CMC -The Dominica Electricity Services (DOMLEC) says the geothermal energy project being pursued by the government will allow for the company to move away from being highly dependent on fuel and the volatility that goes with that in terms of pricing.
“The project will also allow us to be sheltered from volatility in fuel prices, and that’s another critical part of it in terms of stabler prices, not just because it’s renewables but because of the long-term agreement that we have in terms of how that price moves,” said DOMLEC general manager Dwayne Cenac.
Last week, the Dominican government said it would be taking measures to cushion the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East, acknowledging that events thousands of miles away will significantly affect the price of fuel, the cost of food, and the stability of jobs.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that Dominica is fortunate that its geothermal energy is coming on stream “just at the opportune time” with the plant in Laudat in the Roseau Valley on the outskirts of the capital, “making good progress and …now in an advanced stage of testing.
“Both generating units have already been tested, producing power and confirming that the plant is functioning well. Over the coming days, final adjustments will be made as we continue full performance testing.
“At the same time, work on the transmission network, which will carry electricity from the plant to homes and businesses, is well advanced and nearing completion,” he said, noting that at the sub-station, all major components required to receive up to 10 megawatts from the geothermal plant are currently being installed and tested.
Cenac said that the island’s geothermal energy project will ensure greater energy security and that with the geothermal plant installation works in the Roseau Valley completed and in the commissioning phase, power is being generated.
“So essentially the plant is ready, there are a few other things as time progresses, you need to stop, make adjustments, or there might be some further testing, and so on. But as of March 6, we saw power being exported on a section of the existing DOMLEC network.
“Last week, the transmission system that was under construction from last year…that line was energised for the first time last week at 33,000 volts. It’s a shift from what DOMLEC has been accustomed to over the years.”
The Dominican government officially took control of DOMLEC in March 2022, acquiring a 52 per cent majority shareholding from the Canada-based Emera Incorporated for EC$13.5 million (One EC dollar=US$0.37 cents).
Cenac said that DOMLEC operated at a maximum voltage of 11 kV or 11,000 volts, and the month towards geothermal energy “is a new area for us”.
He said that electricity was also loaded from the geothermal plant on a line into Fond Cole, on the outskirts of the capital, last week, and that the goal ”at the end of this week is to get to the maximum capacity of the plant which is 10 megawatts and 10 megawatts represent just about 50 per cent of what our system maximum load is.
“So this gives you an idea of the contribution of geothermal to the system that exists,” Cenac said, adding that the geothermal plant will reach an exciting stage in its development in late April.
“Essentially, the commissioning process will continue down towards the end of April before everything is made official and all the testing is completed. So within April we can expect that the plant will be operating under much more stable conditions and the production will be much more stable, it will be prolonged, a much more steady flow of power, and we do intend to take full advantage of that given the current state of affairs in the world as it regards to fuel prices…
“So the more we can take advantage of geothermal power, indigenous power, both for energy security in terms of not having to depend on imported fuel, but taking advantage of our indigenous resources. So this is a critical milestone for the Dominican energy sector,” Cenac added.
Meanwhile, the government said revised prices for petroleum products have gone into effect as of Monday and that the adjustment is a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“Rising crude oil prices, coupled with increased insurance and transportation costs, have contributed to higher landed costs for fuel, particularly in small island developing states such as Dominica,’ it said, assuring citizens that it remains committed to managing domestic fuel prices in a manner that promotes fairness and stability.
“The current global energy environment underscores the vulnerability of small island developing states to external shocks,” said Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade, and Energy Minister, Dr. Vince Henderson.
“The ongoing tensions in the Middle East continue to exert upward pressure on oil markets, and while these factors are beyond our control, the Government remains resolute in its commitment to managing domestic prices in a responsible and balanced manner. At the same time, we are accelerating our transition towards renewable energy, to reduce long-term exposure to imported fuel volatility and to strengthen national energy security.”
The government said it would continue to closely monitor global developments, including geopolitical risks affecting energy supply chains, and reaffirmed its commitment to taking prudent measures to cushion the impact on households and businesses as international conditions evolve.
CMC/ag/ir/2026