St. Kitts and Nevis reviewing renewable energy projects for potential implementation in 2019

The Minister of Utilities of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Ian Liburd, announced the steps his government would be taking to provide the islands with clean energy.

In his address to the nation, the Minister used the inauguration of the Caribbean Community Energy Month as an opportunity to emphasise the benefits of clean energy. “As the theme [of CARICOM’s Energy Month] says, clean energy benefits all of us in many ways”, he said. The Minister also added that the generation of energy from local resources ensured the Federation would be better protected against external shocks in the energy market.

The development of clean energy is also an attractive and sustainable investment opportunity for the islands, as illustrated by this week’s visit of a Taiwanese delegation seeking opportunities for investment in St. Kitts and Nevis. The renewable energy sector was specifically mentioned as an area of interest for collaboration.

Min. Liburd also announced that the Utilities Ministry, in collaboration with the St. Kitts Electricity Company Limited, is currently reviewing proposals for wind, solar, and waste-to-energy projects which could be implemented as early as 2019. A survey undertaken to explore the potential for geothermal energy concluded that up to 36MW of energy could be generated. The Minister emphasised that, through the development of clean energy, St. Kitts and Nevis would be making a contribution to its international obligations under the Paris Climate Agreement.

“The cost of equipment associated with Clean Energy is trending downwards and technology is also improving, resulting in greater efficiencies and lower cost. Clean energy therefore has the potential to be less expensive than energy produced from fossil fuels,” Min. Liburd concluded.

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