Dominica PM Critical of World Bank Policies Regarding Renewable Energy

ROSEAU, Dominica – Prime Minster Roosevelt Skerrit  Friday criticized the World  Bank  over its lending policies to countries in the Caribbean, including Dominica as they seek to develop alternative forms of energy.

PMskerdomPrime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit speaking at the signing ceremony with the World Bank for new electricity transmission network (CMC Photo)Speaking at the signing ceremony for the World  Bank funded US$38.5 million constriction of a new electricity transmission network, Skerrit  said that the funding should have been given to Roseau as a grant rather than as a loan.

The agreement was signed with the Indian-based Kalpataru Projects International of Latin America, with the transmission network being a key component of the geothermal project being undertaken here.

Energy Minister, Dr Vince Henderson said that the company will be constructing10 kilometres of transmission line with substations starting from Laudat into Fond Cole on the outskirts of the capital, adding “we are very excited about that milestone”.

Dominica is hoping that all equipment for the powerplant will be on island this month and construction on the island’s first 10-megawatt powerplant will begin with a completion date set for December 2025.

“In the bigger scheme of things, I am speaking to the larger shareholders, the directors of the World Bank, who form the G7 in particular, there is no reason why a country like Dominica should have had to  borrow money from the Word  Bank to build this transmission line or to invest in geothermal,” Skerrit told the ceremony that was attended by World Bank representatives.

“If we are serious about the planet, if we are serious about agreements that we have signed with countries where climate change is concerned and the  action we have to take, if we are serious  about the Conference of the Parties (COP) and if we are serious about the agreement n Copenhagen about 18 years ago, of we are serious about the Paris Agreement we signed in 2015 or there about then we have to own up.

“We have to put the monies where we need it and when you look at geothermal, geothermal ticks all of the boxes when you talking about responses to climate change, adaptation, resilience building, reducing the carbon foot prints, all of the boxes,” Skerrit  said.

He said yet still the Dominica finds itself “increasing our national  debt by US$38.5 million, when really it should be a grant, coming out of the Copenhagen agreement, the Paris agreement and all the pledges that have been made.

“ And this is why you find many countries in the Caribbean would like to go to the route of renewable energy, but the moment they start talking about tens of millions (of dollars)  to just do the investigation as we have done here, they shy away,” he said, adding that he would prefer not to name countries in the Caribbean that have adopted that position.

“We here in Dominica, we really have the case study to be done on us because we have stood with this project becase we believe it is important to do for the economy of Dominica,” he added.

In December 2023, the Government of Dominica signed an agreement with Ormat Technologies Inc of Nevada, USA to finance the construction of the plant, and operate and maintain it for 25 years.

Henderson said the project is on schedule and if goes well the plant will be commissioned in early 2026.