Dominica is gearing up to commission its first geothermal power plant this month, according to a senior official from the Caribbean island state.
Finance Minister Dr. Irving McIntyre said the commissioning of the 10 MW plant in the Roseau Valley is set to begin during December, with commercial operations scheduled to start in March 2026.
Speaking to the nation’s Parliament, and cited by Dominca News Online, he called the project a milestone for Dominica’s renewable energy ambitions.
The country is also strengthening its transmission and distribution infrastructure to connect the plant as part of broader efforts to improve energy security and bring down costs on the island, drawing on loan funds from the World Bank.
“We are reminded that in addition to the government’s investment in geothermal power exploration and infrastructure,” he was quoted as saying by Dominica News Online, “government is investing in a first phase of high-voltage resilient transmission network which will connect the geothermal power plant.”
McIntyre said that these works are expected to be completed in time for the commercial operations of the geothermal power plant.
The launch will make Dominica the second member state of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission (OECS) to commence geothermal power production.
Guadeloupe has been producing about 5% of its electricity from geothermal energy sources since 1986.
Other member states, such as St. Kitts and Nevis, are also advancing plans to tap into geothermal energy.