MEDIA ADVISORY - Press Conference - 3rd Council of Ministers: Energy
Key announcements from the meeting of OECS energy ministers to chart a new, decade-long roadmap to drive the region’s economies through sustainable energy development.
WHAT: 3rd Council of Ministers: Energy - Press Conference
Theme: “Sustainable Energy: Creating Opportunities for Reinventing the Economy of the OECS”
WHO:
- 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: Wednesday, February 5th 11.30 am appx
WHERE: St Kitts Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay
WHY: A landmark strategy to drive economic transformation through sustainable energy over the next decade in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is the focus of the Third Meeting of the OECS Council of Ministers: Energy on February 4-5, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort.
Ministers are expected to endorse the OECS Sustainable Energy Roadmap 2025-2035 and 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 by 2035.
HOW: The Press Conference will be streamed via Zoom. Register to take part: https://oecscommission.zoom.us/meeting/register/WRiYtAbdQ72RSld_Octq_Q
Access credentials will then be sent to you.
JOURNALISTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS & VIDEOGRAPHERS - PLEASE BE PRESENT NO LATER THAN 11:15 A.M. SHARP
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 saw a change in the rotating chairmanship of the council as Hon. Konris Maynard of St. Kitts and Nevis took over from Grenada as chair.
- 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 have been presenting, including Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the German development agency GIZ, and energy solutions firm Energy Globus, among others
There were major policy discussions on key areas including:
- 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