Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continues our strong embrace of renewable energy, rapid progress to energy independence, and our status as a “green” and carbon neutral country.
Last year, the Saint Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC)25 refurbished the Richmond and South Rivers hydro plants to the tune of $20 million, utilising automation to improve output and efficiency.
A 420 kWh solar farm alongside the Argyle International Airport was also commissioned. This solar farm will save almost $500,000 in annual diesel imports, and provide enough energy to power almost 500 homes. By the end of April, the capacity of the AIA solar farm will be increased by another 180kWh.
In the coming weeks, the Government will commission the US$3 million Union Island Micro Grid Project – an 800kWh solar PV system with 200kWh battery storage. By the end of the first quarter of this year, we will commission the US$850,000 Mayreau Micro-Grid Project, which provides 150 kWh of solar-generating capacity, and 200 kWh of battery storage.
This year, in addition to the commissioning of those solar facilities and expansions at AIA, Mayreau and Union Island, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will invest another $2.2 million in solar energy.
We also continued to lay the infrastructural groundwork for our pioneering geothermal project. Last year, we constructed the necessary drill pads for the production and infusion wells, as well as the dam and pipe system to facilitate the drilling process.
This year, the Government will spend $24.6 million on progressing towards our goal of establishing the 10MW geothermal plant. In March, the drill rig is expected to arrive here from New Zealand.
The arrival and assembly of the drill rig will be a massive logistical undertaking, with over 100 40-foot containers of equipment making their way to North Windward. After a 2-3 month drilling process, we shall begin the construction of the actual plant, which is anticipated to be completed in 2021.
The Honourable Prime Minister, in his capacity as Minister of Energy, will undoubtedly provide additional information on this revolutionary initiative.
Our streetlights will also become more energy-efficient in 2019, with 8,000 streetlights being replaced with LED fixtures, at a cost of $3.1 million.
In 2018, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continued to consolidate its bona fides as a regional leader in environmental protection and conservation.
This year promises to be pivotal in deepening our commitment to responsible stewardship of our fragile natural gifts. Building upon the considerable preparatory work that took place in 2018, we plan to establish a framework for the regulation of single-use plastic bags and certain plastic containers; the disposal of grey water along our beaches and rivers; and the importation of sunscreen products containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are linked to coral reef damage.
