Geothermal Power

Geothermal Development Ordinance Passes In Nevis

Minister Powell Presenting Geothermal Bill

Nevis’ Minister Powell Presenting Geothermal Bill

Charlestown, Nevis
July 09, 2008

History making legislation with regard to geothermal resources, the first of its kind in the English speaking Caribbean, was passed in the Nevis Island Assembly in Charlestown, shortly before 7pm on July 08, 2008.

The legislation entitled the Nevis Geothermal Resources Development Ordinance, 2008 was tabled by Jr. Minister with responsibility for Natural Resources Hon Carlisle Powell and would provide for the reconnaissance, exploration, drilling, production and use of geothermal resources; for vesting all such resources in the Crown and to provide for related incidental matters.

While he introduced the Bill, Mr. Powell addressed the matter in context of the history of the science of geothermal, the rising cost of fuel prices and the energy and economic independence that the geothermal resource could offer the people of Nevis.

“This Bill represents the future of Nevis. It represents our independence from energy produced by fossil fuels. It represents our fight for economic independence. It represents the platform for every form of independence for this our Nevis, lovely Nevis,” he said.

He also referred to the Bill as non controversial, among the most important pieces of legislation ever to be debated in Nevis’ Parliament and which represented the hard work and vision of a team of people who were dedicated to making life better for all Nevisians.

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Nevis Receives Tech Assistance On Geothermal Legislation

Mark Lambrides

Mr. Mark Lambrides
Charlestown
May 19, 2008

Three Washington based renewable energy experts participated in a recent press briefing with officials of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) to update the Press on matters pertaining to geothermal legislation.  Policy and legal expert, in renewable energy resources, laws and commercial transactions at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Mr. John Armstrong said that he found it remarkable that the island of Nevis was able to develop its own resource.
 
The UNIDO expert stressed the importance of having the appropriate legislation and confirmed that the Ministry and the island’s electricity provider Nevis Electricity Company Ltd. (NEVLEC) had worked tirelessly to finalise the legal framework, which would govern geothermal energy on Nevis.  Mr. Armstrong revealed that through the joint efforts of the NIA and NEVLEC and with some assistance from the Organization of American States (OAS) a solid legal framework was in place, and was an indication that protection would be made not only for the electricity prices for tomorrow but the electricity prices and the availability of the resources for generations to come.

He further elaborated on the need for specific geothermal legislation, to be appropriate for most legal systems. Geothermal energy, he explained, was unique and was normally addressed separately from other renewable sources of energy. He also clarified that it was not quite as necessary to legislate the other renewables because they fell under pre-existing laws.  Mr. Armstrong lauded the NIA for its professionalism and unrelenting commitment to develop and finalise Nevis’ geothermal energy and its legislation.

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Nevis Government To Review Geothermal Legislation

Nevis Junior Minister - Mr. Carlisle Powell

Nevis Junior Minister – Mr. Carlisle Powell

Charlestown, Nevis
May 19, 2008

Junior Minister with responsibility for Communications, Works, Public Utilities, Physical Planning, Posts, Natural Resources and Environment in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) Hon. Carlisle Powell, announced to the media that the draft for geothermal energy legislation was at a stage where the NIA was ready to receive comments from stakeholders and the public.
 
He said the draft will be taken to Parliament and later would become the Bill that would protect geothermal and other renewable resources of energy for the people of Nevis. Mr. Powell made the pronouncement during a recent press briefing recently held at the Nevis TV Channel 8, to inform the media about current developments that pertained to geothermal legislation.
 
Mr. Powell said evidence suggested that geothermal energy would have a significant impact on the economy of Nevis, which would generate millions of dollars per annum for the island’s Treasury. He further expressed that the advent of geothermal energy would provide funds for the NIA to develop Nevis at a rapid pace unlike before.
 
“Now why have we taken such care and why have we decided to move this forward even though we’ve taken care at pace? We have done so because in all of our discussions with the other persons and countries in the world who know of and produce geothermal power and indeed those persons and companies that produces wind power, that there is an abundance of evidence to suggest that in geothermal, in particular, we have a resource that will be able to, over time, have a significant impact on the economy in Nevis, which will in turn allow us to develop the country at a pace that we have never been able to do before so for that, we are extremely grateful, ” he said.

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USVI & Saba Interested In Nevis’ Geothermal Scheme

Charlestown, Nevis
February 29, 2008

Two high powered delegations from the neighbouring United States Virgin Islands (USVI) and the Dutch Territory of Saba left Nevis today February 29, 2008, following a two day visit for a first hand look at the ongoing geothermal explorations on the island.
 
Both delegations were welcomed to the island by Premier of Nevis Hon. Joseph Parry at his Bath Plain Office on Tuesday and were hosted by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) at a dinner in their honour at the Four Seasons Resorts on Wednesday.
 
Following a drill site visit to the West Indies Power Nevis Ltd Spring Hill site on February 28, 2008, Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands Mr. Greg Francis accompanied by his Senior Policy Advisor Mr. Nathan Simmonds and Director of the Virgin Islands Energy Office Mr. Bevan Smith Junior told the Department of Information that he was impressed with the operations and that geothermal energy was something they planned to look into.

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