French minister seeks operator for 130 MW geothermal plant in Dominica

Jul 11, 2013 - France's minister of overseas departments Victorin Lurel said yesterday he is looking for an operator willing to take up a project for a 130 MW geothermal plant in Dominica abandoned by state-run energy group EDF (EPA:EDF).
The project involves the construction of a geothermal facility in Dominica to supply the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique located in close proximity to English-speaking Dominica. Thus, the two French islands would be able to raise the share of renewable energy in their energy mix.
Despite this, EDF decided that the project was not profitable enough and for that reason it stepped out.
Victorin Lurel assured this is a good project which costs EUR 600 million (USD 787m), the bulk of which has already been covered by the French development agency AFD and French state-run bank CDC. Lurel also called on the French government not to abandon the project.
Lurel has received assurance from Dominica's Prime minister Roosevelt Skeritt that the small Caribbean state would give additional time so that a French operator may submit a bid for the geothermal project.

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