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[Media Advisory] 3rd Council of Ministers: Energy
OECS energy ministers meet to chart a new, decade-long roadmap to drive the region’s economies through sustainable energy development
WHAT: 3rd Council of Ministers: Energy - Opening Ceremony
Theme: “Sustainable Energy: Creating Opportunities for Reinventing the Economy of the OECS”
WHO:
- Honourable Dr. Terrence Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis
- Honourable Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Minister of Energy
- Hon. Konris Maynard, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts and incoming Chair of Council
- Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General, Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
WHEN: Tuesday, February 4th 8.00 am
WHERE: St Kitts Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay
WHY: A landmark strategy to drive economic transformation through sustainable energy over the next decade will be the focus of the first physical meeting of energy ministers in the region, following the first meeting held in Miami, Florida and the second held virtually during the pandemic.
The meeting's centrepiece will be the presentation and endorsement of the OECS Sustainable Energy Roadmap 2025-2035. Ministers are expected to review ambitious but practical targets, including achieving 30 per cent renewable energy penetration across the OECS by 2030, with a minimum of 20 per cent in each member state, and 50 per cent penetration by 2035.
HOW: The Opening Ceremony will be live-streamed on the OECStv YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/COME3opening (case-sensitive)
JOURNALISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS - PLEASE BE PRESENT BY 7:45 A.M. SHARP
EDITORS: A press briefing after the meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 5, at a time to be determined. An invitation to participate virtually will be issued.
CONTEXT:
- High imported fossil fuel costs currently affecting regional competitiveness
- Sustainable energy transition aimed at redirecting billions from fuel imports to productive investments
- Focus on job creation and local industry development
- Dominica is set to build the second geothermal power plant in the OECS at Laudat in Roseau Valley. This 10-megawatt facility is expected to provide clean energy to 23,000 homes by the end of 2025
NOTES:
The meeting will see a change in the rotating chairmanship of the council as Hon. Konris Maynard of St. Kitts and Nevis takes over from Hon. Kerryne James of Grenada.
- Day 1: Plenary sessions with ministers, presentations and development partners (closed to journalists)
- Day 2: Closed ministerial session for decision-making. This session is expected to be concluded around 11.30, followed by a closing press briefing chaired by the chair of the council.
- Multiple international organisations will be presenting, including the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the German development agency GIZ, and energy solutions firm Energy Globus, among others
The major policy discussions will focus on:
- Caribbean Energy Interconnection plans to advance regional integration, with a presentation by the CDB.
- Economics of Sustainable Energy and its national/regional implications
- Development of new OECS Sustainable Energy Roadmap
- Framework for geothermal energy standards and guidelines
- Exploration of direct uses of geothermal energy for economic transformation
- Review of Caribbean Regional Renewable Energy Infrastructure Financing
- Updates on the Eastern Caribbean Solar Challenge implementation (this aims to add 6.5 megawatts of new solar capacity)
- Presentation of Regional Photovoltaic (PV) Hosting Capacity Study
- Discussion of Onshore Power possibilities for the OECS
Julius Gittens
OECS Communications Unit