Antigua and Barbuda is exploring the possibility of importing geothermal electricity from St. Kitts and Nevis as part of a broader OECS strategy to strengthen regional energy cooperation, according to Antigua.news.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne said energy security featured prominently at the recent OECS Heads of Government meeting. "We also looked at the issue of energy cooperation," Browne stated.
Browne outlined a regional framework in which islands possessing geothermal resources would develop that capacity and supply neighbouring islands that currently depend heavily on imported fossil fuels. "Those who have geothermal energy [will] develop their geothermal capacity with the possibility that those of us who don't have, like Antigua and Barbuda, can purchase from those who have geothermal," he said.
The Prime Minister confirmed that Antigua and Barbuda has already entered into preliminary discussions with St. Kitts and Nevis. "Already we have had discussions with St. Kitts and Nevis to see how we could collaborate with them."
One proposal under active consideration involves the construction of an underwater electricity cable between the two islands. "To get a subsea line running from Nevis to Antigua where we could potentially in the future get base load electricity," Browne said.
Browne framed the initiative as part of wider regional efforts to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and build long-term energy resilience. He noted that Caribbean nations remain vulnerable to global fuel price fluctuations driven by international conflicts.
"We have to position ourselves to be a little more resilient so that the impact is not as great as it would have been in the past," the Prime Minister said.
