West Indies Power

{{Short description|Former utility company in the Netherlands Antilles}}

West Indies Power was a geothermal power company registered in 2001 in the Netherlands Antilles and with the head office in Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis. It conducted studies on geothermal power projects in Nevis, Saba and Dominica.

Projects at Nevis

At Nevis, West Indies Power had two geothermal projects.

{{cite news

| work = Green Island Inc.

| url = http://www.greenislandinc.com/news/nevis_geo_3.htm

| title = West Indies Power (Nevis) begins drilling second geothermal development well

| date = 2008-06-24

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

In February 2007, the Nevis Island Administration issued a license to West Indies Power for exploration of the geothermal resource of Nevis. West Indies Power commenced explorations at the same month.

{{cite news

| work = SKNVibes.com

| url = http://www.sknvibes.com/News/NewsDetails.cfm/2514

| title = NIA gives nod to West Indies Power Holdings Ltd

| date = 2007-02-08

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

On 29 April 2009, a geothermal contract was signed with the Nevis Island Administration and a power purchase agreement was signed with the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd.

{{cite press release

| publisher = Nevis Island Administration

| via = SKNVibes.com

| url = https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/68535

| title = Nevis Government free from geothermal contract with West Indies Power; plans afoot to continue development with other interested parties

| date = 2013-01-18

| accessdate=2021-05-21}}

In 2014, the Nevis Island Administration terminated the geothermal contract, citing the lack of actual progress made, making way for a new group planning to develop the project.{{cite news|url=https://www.thinkgeoenergy.com/west-indies-power-looses-appeal-on-termination-of-lease-in-nevis/|title=West Indies Power looses appeal on termination of lease in Nevis|last1=Rojas|first1=Francisco|newspaper=Think GeoEnergy - Geothermal Energy News|date=2 July 2014|accessdate=2021-02-03}} As of 2020, the Nevis geothermal project is co-developed between NRE International Inc (NREI) and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).{{cite news|url=https://renewablesnow.com/news/albioma-joins-10-mw-geothermal-project-on-nevis-island-688378/|title=Albioma joins 10-MW geothermal project on Nevis island|first1=Sladjana|last1=Djunisic|date=24 February 2020|newspaper=Renewables Now|accessdate=2021-02-03}}

The Nevis 1 project was located at Spring Hill. The drilling at Spring Hill commenced in January 2008.

{{cite news

| work = Caribbean Net News

| url = http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/stkitts/stkitts.php?news_id=5613&start=0&category_id=35

| title = Geothermal development drilling begins on Nevis

| date = 2008-01-23

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

The geothermal reservoir at Spring Hill was discovered on 2 June 2008 and the geotechnical work started in July 2008.

{{cite news

| work = SKNVibes.com

| url = http://www.sknvibes.com/Politics/NewsDetails.cfm/5637

| title = West Indies Power moves to second geothermal drill site on Nevis

| date = 2008-06-26

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

The Nevis 1 plant was to supply 50 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to fulfill all of Nevis' demand (approximately 10 MW) as also to export to neighboring Saint Kitts and other nearby islands via submarine electrical transmission cables.

{{cite news

| work = Green Island Inc.

| url = http://www.greenislandinc.com/news/nevis_geo_1.htm

| title = Will Nevis be the CAaribbean's first green island?

| date = 2008-04-26

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

The Nevis 2 project was located at Upper Jessups Village in the St. Thomas Parish. The drilling started on 24 June 2008.

Project in Dominica

The Government of Dominica awarded geothermal exploration and development license to West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. on 10 July 2008.

{{cite news

| work = Green Island Inc.

| url = http://www.greenislandinc.com/news/dominica_geothermal_1.htm

| title = Geothermal exploration begins in Dominica

| date = 2008-07-25

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

In August 2011, it received an approval for exploratory drilling in the Soufrière Valley.

{{cite news

| work = Dominica News Online

| url = https://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/economy-development/west-indies-power-receives-governments-approval-for-geothermal-drilling-in-soufriere/

| title = West Indies Power receives government’s approval for geothermal drilling in Soufriere

| date = 2011-08-09

| accessdate=2021-05-21}}

The company was accused of paying bribes to the Dominican government in exchange for securing the license.

{{cite news

| work = The Dominican.net

| url = http://thedominican.net/2011/12/bank-owner-arrested-on-fraud.html

| title = Dominica bank owner arrested in London on fraud and money laundering charges

| first = Thomson | last = Fontaine

| date = 2011-12-06

| accessdate=2017-05-27}}

Project in Saba

In Saba, West Indies Power developed geothermal power plant with capacity of 75 MW.

{{cite news

| newspaper = Daily Herald

| url = http://sxmprivateeye.com/node/12715

| title = Saba close to launching geothermal project

| date = 2008-06-11

| accessdate=2008-08-17}}

Structure

The parent company, West Indies Power Holdings B.V., was registered in the Netherlands Antilles. It had offices in Charlestown, Nevis, and in Roseau, Dominica. West Indies Power operated through its subsidiaries West Indies Power (Nevis) Ltd., West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. and West Indies Power (Saba) B.V.

Management

The chief executive officer of West Indies Power Holding was Kerry McDonald. The general manager of West Indies Power (Nevis) Ltd. was Rawlinson Isaac and the chief operations officerand head of drilling operations was Bobby Tinsley.

{{cite news

| work = Sun St. Kitts & Nevis

| url = http://sunstkitts.com/paper/?asknw=view&asknw=view&sun=490605129208082008&an=205430077208082008&ac=Local

| title = Geothermal energy drilling in Nevis draws local interest

| date = 2008-08-08

| accessdate=2008-08-10}}

The chief finance officer was Dimitrijus Apockinas.

Russian businessman Vladimir Antonov is reported to have a stake in the company.