by Bennette Roach
Capped Well #1
Just after press time of our last October 11 issue, TMR learnt of the most up to date information on geothermal exploration that experts were due to arrive this week to carry out what should be final tests on the Well #1.
A reliably informed spokesperson confirmed there will still be no news before the end of October, 2013 or later, as to the viability of the results of the drilling at Well #1 which finally began to emit steam in September.
The spokesperson, out of the Geothermal Unit confirmed that from time to time the Well had been opened to confirm that the steam continued to flow, as evidenced by the heavy sounds that are heard at night as far as Olveston, coming from the Cork Hill/Weeks area, between Plymouth and Belham.
Also confirmed, is that all drilling equipment have been removed and transported to Dominica, where surprisingly we learn that not a hole had been dug there before the drilling equipment was transported to Montserrat.
On Wednesday this week, Governor Davis at his press conference, while not expected to report on the matter, following his compliment of the most recent TMR’s article on geothermal, and a question on the Premier’s recent pronouncements on the next phase, said, “I don’t really have any view on that. What I’d really like is before anybody takes a view on it, is actual confirmation of what we’ve got,” adopting the latest report on the matter, “we still don’t have that – we’ve got to explore it in the next phase.”
The obvious hesitancy to speak or even to speculate good news to date, has raised much suspicion and doubt as to the viability, not so much that there is no energy but in any significant potential.
DOMINICA claims lead in geothermal exploration in CARICOM
Meanwhile Dominica has been in the news, exposing the perhaps no so surprising quiet about Montserrat’s efforts to explore and realise its geothermal potential. The news comes from a report that states, “Dominica has been recognized as being the lead among Caribbean countries in efforts at developing geothermal resources as an alternative to fossil fuels.”
The article states that Dominica, told, “the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum in Aruba last week, (now two weeks ago) – Dominica was ranked in the number one position among CARICOM member states for diversifying its energy resources to renewable.”
Montserrat is an ‘original member state of CARICOM, and the question asked is why Montserrat continues to be absent at these Caribbean Energy Forums meetings.
According to the article, the forum heard from Dominica’s Minister for public works, energy and ports, Rayburn Blackmore, who told the meeting, “The EIA for the two full sized wells have been done. I have been advised there is a draft report to that effect so we have been able to execute that plan by way of precision, observing all the best practices that needs to be observed internationally and for that I am very glad,” he noted.
He said further that actual drilling of those wells would commence at the end of October, informing that In 2003 and again in 2008, the government of Dominica commissioned studies in the Roseau Valley catchment area to ascertain the presence of geothermal energy resources.
TMR will seek to get comment from GoM as to these claims and whether this is due to the uncertainty and doubts that might explain the silence that surrounds the potential of what has been touted as a “game changer” by most stakeholders.
