Business
Geothermal drilling approved in Dominica
West Indies Power will be drilling to explore the nature of geothermal energy reserves in the southwest of the island.
Government has given the nod for West Indies Power (WIP) to drill in the Soufriere Valley in search of geothermal energy reserves.
It has given approval to WIP’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIA), which enables the company to begin exploratory drilling in order to determine conditions of the geothermal reservoir in the area.
“WIP is pleased to have been granted the right be able to begin drilling in Soufriere,” said CEO of the power producing company, Kerry McDonald. “For years people have suspected that there is a geothermal reservoir in this area and now we will be able to finally prove its existence.”
The drilling plan conducted by West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. calls for the drilling of two or three “slim holes” – 2-6 inch wells that are drilled to test for temperature, pressure, and solution chemistry – to a depth of 1000m.
The results of these tests will allow WIP to determine the size and composition of the geothermal reservoir and to begin designing the geothermal power plant to use those geothermal solutions.
Construction of the drill sites will begin in fourth quarter of this year and drilling is planned for the second quarter of 2012. Both foreign contractors and Dominican workers will be employed on the project.
