OECS geothermal projects raise profile at Nevis Geothermal Forum
OECS MEDIA RELEASE
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has hailed the Nevis Geothermal Forum, held on May 26, as a watershed moment for the region’s sustainable energy ambitions. Organised by Island Innovation in collaboration with the Nevis Island Administration and the OECS GEOBUILD Programme as a prelude to the Global Sustainable Island Summit (GSIS) in St Kitts and Nevis, the forum convened government leaders, technical experts, international partners, and private sector stakeholders to accelerate geothermal development across the OECS.
Political will, regional collaboration, hallmarks of development
The forum showcased a new era of cooperation between the federal government of St Kitts and Nevis and the Nevis Island Administration. The Honourable Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis, welcomed participants by highlighting the island’s unique geothermal potential:
“Through nature, God’s miracles, whatever one would want to say, some may say, through sheer luck, we have a considerable geothermal resource on the island of Nevis, a resource which we feel, if harnessed can be transformative, not only for this island, but for the wider Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and indeed, for our sub-region.”
Hon. Konris Maynard, the Federal Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts, who is also the current chair of the OECS Council of Ministers: Energy, emphasised the united political front as a necessary ingredient for successful geothermal energy development:
“If there is one issue where there is absolutely no daylight between the leader of the opposition, Premier Brantley, and the Prime Minister of the country, it is on geothermal development.”
Research has identified Nevis as one of the world’s largest geothermal energy resources. Minister Maynard also underscored the scale of the opportunity, stating,
“One thing that is now seemingly undeniable is that the resource is there, and estimates say that we have close to a gigawatt of potential.”
Showcasing OECS geothermal progress
The forum showcased Nevis’s plans to build a 30-megawatt power plant, with the potential to develop other energy-based industries and connect with its sister island, St Kitts. Production drilling for the resource to drive the plan is expected to be conducted in 2026. The forum also provided a platform for other OECS Member States to share updates on major geothermal developments:
- Dominica: Construction of a geothermal plant is underway, with commissioning expected by December 2025. The project has a budget of approximately US$34.8 million (EC$94 million), sourced from various sources, including the Caribbean Development Bank and the Green Climate Fund. Dominica would become the first independent OECS Member State to develop geothermal power.
- Grenada: The project is at the bidding stage, with the UK approving £10 million (EC$36.5 million) in grant funding for exploratory drilling and plans to supply domestic demand. The CDB had also approved funding (USD9.4 million) for drilling two slimhole wells under its GeoSmart Initiative.
- Saint Lucia: Supported by the World Bank, the geothermal development project in the Soufriere region is advancing with civil works tenders, environmental and social impact assessments, and plans for community benefits such as improved infrastructure.
Five-point plan for geothermal advancement
The Caribbean Development Bank's advisor on sustainable energy, Dr. Sherine Ibrahim, presented a comprehensive five-point strategy to accelerate the region's geothermal energy development through the bank's GeoSmart initiative:
1. Strengthening regional collaboration
OECS has a pivotal role to play through initiatives like its GEOBUILD programme, which offers technical assistance, capacity building and policy support.
2. Securing and diversifying funding
Leveraging financial instruments from multilateral donors like CDB, Inter-American Development Bank, Green Climate Fund, and bilateral partners from the UK and New Zealand, especially to de-risk the exploration risks in the drilling process. This insulates taxpayers from liability for financing should exploration fail to yield the required conditions for power plant development.
3. Exploring direct-use applications
Geothermal energy can be utilised in agriculture, tourism, and industrial processes. Nevis itself is a historic example of direct use, as the “home of Caribbean hospitality” – the Bath Hotel was built around a hot spring in 1778.
4. Enhancing workforce development
Geothermal projects can generate approximately five jobs per megawatt of power generated, surpassing employment rates in the solar and green sectors.
5. Implementing robust policy frameworks
The need to establish clear regulations, incentives and streamline permitting processes to create the environment for geothermal development. The GEOBUILD Programme is available for Member States to develop their regulatory frameworks to create investment-ready geothermal energy projects.
Chamberlain Emmanuel, Head of the Environmental Sustainability Division at the OECS Commission, stressed the importance of knowledge sharing:
“The OECS Geothermal Knowledge Hub is a strategic initiative designed to accelerate and sustain geothermal energy development across the Eastern Caribbean by centralising knowledge, strengthening institutional capacity, and facilitating regional cooperation.”
Capacity building and knowledge exchange
Dr. Ernie Stapleton, Project Manager of OECS GEOBUILD, highlighted the programme’s achievements:
“The OECS GEOBUILD project demonstrates effective regional collaboration, sourcing highly qualified consultants to assist and train local energy practitioners across various aspects of geothermal development. This capacity-building effort is vital for empowering our local expertise and ensuring the sustainability of this sector.”
Climate resilience and economic impact
A dedicated panel explored geothermal energy’s role in climate resilience and energy security. Climate resilience in the context of geothermal energy refers to the ability of geothermal systems to support communities and ecosystems in coping with and adapting to climate climate-related challenges, according to Naftalie Errar, Project Coordinator for the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC). Geothermal energy can contribute to climate resilience through reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reliable, flexible energy sources, decarbonisation of heating and cooling, local energy production, and economic benefits.
Dr. Mohammed Nagdee from the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), another partner with the Commission on sustainable energy efforts, concluded:
“Having a hub or having a knowledge sharing centre led by OECS is very important. At the same time, to adopt the PPP [public-private sector partnership] model with the governments and the private sector is going to be very helpful for the geothermal energy development.”
The forum concluded with a field visit to Nevis’s geothermal exploration site at Hamilton, providing participants with a first-hand look at the resource’s transformative promise.
The Nevis Geothermal Forum provided the OECS Commission with an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to supporting Member States through technical assistance, policy guidance, and investor coordination, and working closely with international partners in New Zealand, Iceland and Britain to secure the resources needed to realise the region’s geothermal potential.
WATCH A VIDEO ON THE GEOBUILD PROGRAMME FEATURING NEVIS:
GEOBUILD-Advancing Geothermal Energy in the OECS.mp4
About OECS GEOBUILD:
The OECS Geothermal Energy Capacity Building for Utilisation, Investment and Local Development (OECS GEOBUILD) is a programme of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission aimed at unlocking the geothermal energy potential in five OECS Member States. The programme works to bring economic and environmental benefits beyond electric power generation, contributing to the sustainable development of the region. It is supported by the Caribbean Development Bank, the European Union Caribbean Investment Facility and the Inter-American Development Bank.
Visit OECS GEOBUILD at oecs.int/geobuild
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Julius Gittens
OECS Communications Unit