A consultancy team has started holding stakeholder meetings and consultations in Saint Lucia as part of the process of developing a modern legislative framework to guide the exploration, development, and utilization of the country’s geothermal resources.
The consultancy is funded by the Geothermal Energy Capacity Building for Utilisation, Investment and Local Development (GEOBUILD) Programme, under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), as part of its mission to support the development of drafting instructions for a Geothermal Energy Development Bill.
As part of the consultancy work, joint venture partners Partnerships International, Inc. and Arthur John Armstrong, PC travelled to Saint Lucia to hold a series of stakeholder meetings.
The first meeting was held at the Department of Infrastructure, bringing together representatives from government agencies, regulatory bodies, private sector organizations, and development partners. Another meeting was held to engage with key institutions located in the souther region of the island.
The discussions focused on several key policy considerations, including ownership and management of geothermal resources, investment and financing models, regulatory oversight, and opportunities for both electricity generation and the direct use of geothermal energy in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and industry.
Participants also explored how the legislative framework could support the country’s long-term goals of reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, strengthening energy security, and stabilising electricity prices.
During the meetings, the consultancy team outlined the methodology being used to prepare the drafting instructions for the proposed geothermal legislation. The framework is intended to align with Saint Lucia’s national energy goals while incorporating international best practices and lessons learned from geothermal development programmes worldwide and within the Caribbean region.
In addition to the stakeholder meetings, the consultancy team held consultations with the Minister responsible for utilities to discuss policy directions and legislative considerations for geothermal development. The team also conducted a field visit to the proposed sites for slim-hole exploratory drilling in order to gain a deeper understanding of the technical and environmental context of the project.
By assisting Saint Lucia in establishing a robust legislative framework, the OECS GEOBUILD Programme aims to help create an enabling environment that will attract investment to advance the sustainable development of geothermal resources in the country.
Elsewhere in the Caribbean, testing of the first geothermal power plant in Dominica has started as the facility nears the official start of commercial operations.
Source: OECS
