St Kitts and Nevis commissions 6MW power plant to enhance electricity reliability

St Kitts and Nevis has commissioned a 6MW power plant with a vision to enhance the reliability of electricity and its supply for the citizens of the island nation. This temporary power plant is expected to operate for the period of 12 months in the first instance.

While shedding light on this initiative, the Minister of Energy, Konris Maynard asserted that it is a part of their ongoing efforts to allow SKELEC the extra capacity to take overrun generators out of service for long overdue maintenance.

He asserted that this 24hr service of additional power will play a huge role in ensuring that there is stability in the electricity supply over the next 12 months as SKELEC performs their urgent overhauls.

The Minister further reiterated his commitment towards rapidly improving the quality of life and livelihoods of the citizens by providing reliable, affordable, sustainable and modern electric energy, and power services to all.

This 6MW power plant is all set to serve a bridge in order to cater to the needs of the island’s current energy while paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.

Minister Maynard also mentioned constructing a new 18MW power plant and for the same, the government has secured a US $40 million concessionary loan from the Saudi Fund for Development. He shared that this initiative is a key component of the government’s Sustainable Island State Agenda, aiming to provide cleaner energy and ensuring a stable and sustainable energy future for the island nation.

He added that this new plant will not only provide a more reliable energy future, but will also bridge toward achieving the seesaw objectives by coupling a clean burning flexible generation platform with energy storage technology.

The Minister added that it has been designed with a vision to facilitate the proliferation of distributed renewable energy resources, which are to be imminently incentivized to the rollout of a feed in tariff.