Results obtained from the 2008 scientific and technical
studies and from the three exploratory wells completed in June 2012.
The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica(GoCD) established the
Geothermal Project Management Unit in December 2009 to oversee the overall
implementation and management of activities relating to the Roseau Valley Geothermal Development Project
Executive Summary
Results obtained from the 2008 scientific and technical studies and from the three exploratory wells completed in June 2012, suggest that the main heat source of the geothermal reservoir is a magmatic chamber from the Micotrin dome located in the northern sector of the Project Area. It is also considered to be the main upflow zone of hot geothermal fluids. The reservoir is liquid dominated with temperatures up to 250°C with a minimum surface area of 9 km2. It is being recharged by meteoric water and small amounts of sea water.
Contracts have been signed with Iceland Drilling Company (IDC), Iceland GeoSurvey (ISOR) and Geothermal Resource Group (GRG) to provide drilling, testing and supervision services respectively for one production well (located in Laudat) and one reinjection well (located in Trafalgar) commencing October 2013. Site preparation and road access works have been completed.
The Commonwealth of Dominica is a small Island nation in the Lesser Antilles Region of the Caribbean. It has a population of 71,293 (2011 Census) and measures 290 square miles. Its economy is primarily based on Agriculture and Tourism. Having no petroleum resources, the energy and transport sectors are susceptible to the fluctuating cost of oil on the international market. However, with the potential that exists in terms of clean renewable energy production with the natural resources available, Dominica can seek to address those problems and to maintain or improve its status as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean and improve the quality of life of its people.
In 2005, an exploration survey was carried out in the Wotten Waven area in Dominica, in the frame of the Eastern Caribbean Geothermal Development Programme “Geo-Caraïbes” funded by the OAS (Organization of American States). Subsequent to the OAS programme another programme called “Geothermal Energy in Caribbean Islands” or “Géothermie Caraïbes” was initiated by the E.U., the Commonwealth of Dominica and France in the frame of the European INTERREG IIIB Programme “Espaces Caraïbes”. The partners include the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Regional Councils of Guadeloupe and Martinique, Ademe (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maitrise de l’Energie), BRGM Group (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières) and CFG Services.
This programme is focused on the Roseau Valley Geothermal Field (considered as a potential Geothermal field) located about 8km ENE of the Capital of Roseau, and exhibits many surface manifestations which include hot springs, fumaroles, phreatic craters etc. Geoscientific surveys were conducted by the BRGM group in 2008, identified a potential geothermal reservoir to be investigated and tested by deep exploratory wells.
In its efforts to provide a safe and reliable alternative source of energy to the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (GoCD) through the Geothermal Project Management Unit (GPMU) of the Ministry of Public Works, Energy & Ports (MPWEP), undertook the exploratory drilling and well testing phase of the Geothermal Energy Project.
The overall long-term project is to construct a geothermal power plant to meet the local demand and to sell surplus electricity to the neighbouring islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique via interconnection with a submarine cable.
The exploratory phase of the project involved the drilling of three exploratory geothermal wells in the Roseau Valley Geothermal field. The wells were drilled utilizing the ‘Wire-line Coring’ mining technique. A level area of approximately 3000 square meters was prepared for the drilling rig and related equipment to carry out the drilling and testing activities. The three drilling sites are in the communities of Wotten Waven (Well site WW-1) and Laudat (Well sites WW-2 and WW-3) respectively.
ESIA: Non-Technical Summary
Non-Technical Summary (NTS) provides an overview, in plain language, of the main findings of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)
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