The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission has continued to provide technical assistance to the Government of Saint Lucia to support the development of drafting instructions for a Geothermal Energy Development Bill.
The consultancy, funded by the OECS Geothermal Energy Capacity Building for Utilisation, Investment and Local Development (GEOBUILD), is being executed by a joint venture between Partnerships International Inc., and Arthur John Armstrong PC, which has been engaged to assist the Government of Saint Lucia in developing a legislative framework to guide the exploration, development and utilisation of the island’s geothermal resources.
The GEOBUILD Programme aims to build capacity to advance geothermal exploration and strengthen OECS Member States’ transition to a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy sector.
Dr. Ernie Stapleton, Project Manager of the OECS GEOBUILD Programme, said, “The technical consultants are taking a holistic approach to geothermal development in Saint Lucia, looking not only at the electricity generation potential but also at the wider opportunities for direct uses of the geothermal resource. These applications can support sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and industry, creating additional economic benefits for local communities while strengthening the country’s overall energy transition.”
The Government is implementing the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project through financing from the World Bank Group. The funding for the technical assistance originates from the Caribbean Development Bank, with funding from the Green Climate Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the European Union Caribbean Investment Facility.
Several key policy considerations have been made, including ownership and management of geothermal resources, investment and financing models, regulatory oversight, and opportunities for both electricity generation and direct use of geothermal energy in the tourism, agriculture and industry sectors.
The OECS GEOBUILD Programme is supporting the consultancy as part of the broader mandate to strengthen capacity for geothermal energy development across Member States. The assistance in Saint Lucia helps establish a clear and robust legislative framework to aid in the creation of a stable environment necessary to attract investment and advance the sustainable development of geothermal sources.