The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission has announced the official opening of bids for the production drilling phase for the St. Kitts and Nevis geothermal power project.
A total of five bids from internationally recognised firms were received for the initiative on Nevis, a cornerstone of the Federation’s Sustainable Island State Agenda (SISA), which marks a significant step towards energy sovereignty, resilience, and a cleaner future for an OECS Member State.
Drilling to produce geothermal energy to drive an electric turbine at Hamilton Estate is expected to begin in early 2026 following the awarding of the contract to the successful bidder.
The five companies that submitted bids are Iceland Drilling Company from Iceland, Marriott Drilling and Consortium Drilling of the United Kingdom, and Ormat Technologies Inc. and IPS-USA from the United States.
Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Dr. Terrance Drew, confirmed in his national address and said “I am also thrilled to report that the partnership between the Federal Government and the Nevis Island Administration to finally bring our geothermal energy potential to life is bearing fruit. With deep earth thermal reservoirs already identified, the international bidding process for drilling of production wells progressed such that bids were opened a few days ago and five internationally recognised firms have submitted proposals. With US $37 million [approximately EC $100 million] already secured through the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the Saudi Fund for Development, we expect drilling to commence in early 2026.”
A 30-megawatt geothermal plant, once operational, is expected to provide baseload renewable energy for both Nevis and St. Kitts, delivering cleaner, more affordable electricity and advancing the Federation’s goal of true energy independence.
“Once operational, this geothermal plant could provide baseload renewable energy for Nevis and St. Kitts. It means cleaner energy, cheaper electricity, and true energy sovereignty for future generations” Dr. Terrence Drew added.
St. Kitts and Nevis will become the third OECS Member State and the second in CARICOM to develop a geothermal power plant, following Dominica’s planned inauguration of a 10-megawatt plant in the Roseau Valley at Christmas 2025. Guadeloupe has been producing about 5% of its electricity from geothermal sources since 1986.
The burgeoning development of geothermal projects in the region creates opportunities for energy service companies in T&T. Energy services companies experienced in drilling traditional oil & gas wells possess unique skillsets and specialized equipment that can be used within the region to advance projects without having to bring skills and equipment from the USA, Europe and Iceland. Leveraging assets within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) has the potential to reduce costs and save time in executing these geothermal projects.