Renewable Energy Sector Development Project

27/08/2026

🎙️ GOVERNMENT NOTEBOOK | AUGUST 27, 2026

Stay informed on the latest progress updates about the RESDP!
In today’s edition of Government Notebook, the headline includes:
'Geothermal Exploration Advances in Saint Lucia'

Tune in to hear more about these important developments and other updates from the Government of Saint Lucia.

Listen to the full episode on Government Notebook – August 27, 2026

In the headlines: Geothermal exploration advances in Saint Lucia and the northern pipeline upgrade commences For details on these stories and more, visit www.govt.lc

21/08/2026

Cabinet Approves All Land Purchases, Leases and Acquisitions to Undertake the RESDP

During the months of May and June, the Cabinet of Ministers provided its approval for purchase, lease and acquisition of 7.34 acres of lands required for exploration activities under the RESDP. Resultantly, all lands required for exploration activities is now under the management of the RESDP. This is a major project milestone which clears the way for signing the civil works contract and the commencement of project civil works.

To prove and explore the economic viability of Saint Lucia’s geothermal resources, exploration drilling is required. To undertake this activity the country must prepare the supporting infrastructure. Land is required to build supporting infrastructure such as well pads, roads, material and equipment storage, office and parking space.

Overall, 11.79 acres are needed for exploration activities. However, last year, 4.45 acres of Crown land was vested by the Cabinet of Ministers (Cabinet) with the project for its use leaving a shortfall of 7.34 acres. The Cabinet has now approved that this outstanding amount of land be obtained through a combination of purchases, leases and acquisitions. More specifically, it provided its approval for 2.3 acres to be purchased and 2.8 acres to be leased in open market voluntary transactions, and 2.24 acres to be acquired through the Land Acquisition Act.

It is important to note that GOSL’s preference was for purchases and leases, only. However, acquisitions became necessary in cases where the registered landowner died intestate and there were multiple generations of heirs with no administrator appointed to administer the estate of the deceased. In such circumstances, the PIU worked with the families to put together their family tree and paid for the appointment of an administrator for the family. Due to the length of the application process in probate court, these appointments are still pending.

To obtain the required lands, memos detailing the relevant purchases, leases and acquisitions had to be prepared and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for its approval. All memos were submitted to the Cabinet in May and June, and Cabinet Conclusions confirming approval of their contents were received in the same months.

These approvals clear the way for the Attorney General’s Chambers and landowners and/or representatives to sign the deeds of sale or lease agreements, the publication of the relevant Declarations of Acquisition in the Saint Lucia Gazette, and the processing of payments. As a requirement of the financing arrangement between GOSL and the World Bank, the former will make all payments to the landowning families before taking possession of their land. In cases, where the appointment of administrators is pending, a preliminary sum representing the open market value of the property plus a transaction cost will be placed in escrows for the family. On appointments, administrators will negotiate the final price of their family land with the GOSL.

10/08/2026

Construction of House for Project Affected Household Well Underway

Work on the construction of a disaster resilient, one-bedroom house for a single-person household who will be physically displaced, as part of the project's activities in Parc Estate, is well underway. On completion, the single occupant will be re-settled to the new house and previous residence will be demolished to make way for construction of a storage area for the project.

The resettlement of the affected household forms part of the project's approved RAP. The household is also entitled to and has been paid a relocation allowance to facilitate a smooth transition to its new home.

The construction contract was awarded to Innov8 Inc., with site activities commencing on April 9, 2026. As of late June, the project has transitioned into the superstructure phase, marked by the completion of the concrete floor slab and the initiation of block wall installation.

During the construction process, a quality assurance review identified a material non-conformance involving sub-standard concrete during a foundation pour. In accordance with strict project standards, a temporary stop-work order was implemented, and remedial actions are in progress to resolve the issue and guarantee the building's structural integrity.

Despite this brief pause, the contractor remains targeted toward completing the structure by October 2026. Should any scheduling alignment require the household to relocate prior to the final handover, the Government of Saint Lucia (GoSL) is prepared to facilitate temporary accommodation at its expense to ensure continuous housing security.

05/08/2026

Good morning family. The future of Saint Lucia’s energy is right beneath our feet in Saltibus! 🌍

Over the weekend, I took the opportunity to check out the active seismic testing site for our geothermal energy project (Renewable Energy Sector Development Project - RESDP). You may recall that I spoke about this during the last Budget Debate. Saltibus is one of three sites chosen for potential geothermal energy exploration.

Why does this matter to you? Because as long as we rely entirely on imported oil, our light bills will always be at the mercy of global crises. By exploring geothermal energy right here in our own backyard, we are fighting for energy independence and cheaper, cleaner electricity for every household.

Saltibus is leading the charge in our green energy revolution! Let’s get to work! 🇱🇨

03/08/2026

Fifteen Scholarship and Apprenticeship Awardees Embark on 3-Month Paid Apprenticeship

On June 1, fifteen (15) students from the Engineering and the Circular Economy Department of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC), recipients of the RESDP Scholarship and Apprenticeship Programme (SAP), commenced their apprenticeships at several hosting partners islandwide. Completing an apprenticeship is a mandatory requirement for graduation at the college as it prepares apprentices for their careers.

“At the RESDP we see apprenticeships as a pipeline between academic instruction and the workplace. More specifically we believe it’s a great way for apprentices to apply their classroom knowledge to real life situations, an opportunity to gain employable skills and industry experience thus better readying the apprentice for their careers and future workplace”, says Dominic Alexander, Social Development and Safeguards Officer.

Unlike the traditional SALCC apprenticeship which only lasts one month, this extended paid apprenticeship lasts three months. The extended period makes apprentices better prepared for the workplace by providing them with more time and opportunity to acquire workplace skills and experience.

Apprenticeship hosting partners for this year’s apprenticeship programme include the OECS Commission, Converge Solutions Inc, Government Information Technology Services Limited, Flow St. Lucia, Computer World, WASCO, Saint Lucia Distillers, St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited, Millenium Heights Medical Complex, Peter and Company Auto, Yamaha/TH Motor and Marine, and Rasco Garage.

29/07/2026

The Ministry of Physical Development and Public Utilities invites sealed Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of Drilling Rig and Integrated Drilling Services and Tangible Items for drilling and testing of 3 (three) exploratory geothermal wells.

Interested bidders are required to register via the Government of Saint Lucia Electronic Procurement Portal to access the bidding document.

The link below informs of the registration process:
https://in-tendhost.co.uk/goslprocurement/

29/07/2026

World Bank Representative Conducts Monitoring Visits with Project Affected Persons

As part of the project’s post-compensation monitoring of RAP implementation, representatives of the RESDP and the World Bank conducted visits to six project affected households (PAHs) in mid-May. The visit provided the project and the World Bank the opportunity to verify that compensation was received, its adequacy and how it had been utilized; assessed the well-being of PAHs; and identified any remaining concerns or support needs.

The monitoring exercise was undertaken by the RESDP’s Community Liaison Officer, Windia Jaunai, the Social Development and Safeguards Officer, Dominic Alexander, and the World Bank's Senior Social Development Specialist, Sanjay Agarwal.

Throughout the visits, the team engaged directly with the heads of the affected households to better understand their experiences following the receipt of compensation and to ensure that the commitments outlined in the RAP continue to be fulfilled. The exercise reinforced the project's commitment to maintaining open communication and transparency throughout implementation.

In highlighting the importance of maintaining direct engagement with project affected persons (PAPs) beyond the compensation payment period, the project’s safeguards specialist, Dominic Alexander, stated "Our responsibility does not end when compensation is paid.

These monitoring visits allow us to understand how PAHs are progressing, address any concerns that may arise, and ensure that the commitments made under the RAP continue to improve the lives of those affected by the project."

“Continued monitoring is an essential component of good social safeguards practice, allowing the project to evaluate outcomes, respond to community needs, and ensure that affected persons continue to receive appropriate support throughout project implementation,” he added.

The PAPs interviewed welcomed the opportunity to meet with the project team and share updates on their circumstances. One PAP from Belvedere, Fond St. Jacques, expressed appreciation for the continued follow-up by the project team. "I appreciate that the team came back to check on us. It shows that the project genuinely cares about what happens after compensation is received. It gave me the chance to explain how the funds have helped my family and to ask questions about the next steps" the PAP said.

The RESDP remains committed to implementing the World Bank's Environmental and Social Safeguards through meaningful stakeholder engagement, responsible resettlement practices, and ongoing monitoring that places people at the centre of project development.

25/06/2026

RESDP Consultants Present to Fellow Caribbean Consultants on Stakeholder Engagement

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, RESDP’s Social Development and Safeguards Specialist, Dominic Alexander, and Communications Specialist, Windia Jaunai, presented virtually to over 75 other regional environmental and social specialist and practitioners working across the Caribbean region and development partners at the Caribbean Development Bank and International-American Development Bank on the conduct of stakeholder engagement. The presentation was the first of the World Bank’s Caribbean Environmental & Social (E&S) Learning Series.

The objective of the Caribbean E&S Learning Series is to provide an informal platform for practitioners to share experiences with ESF implementation in the region. This inaugural session highlighted stakeholder engagement good and innovative practices from projects in Sint Maarten (Improving Mental Health Services), Saint Lucia (Renewable Energy Sector Development Project), and Dominica (Geothermal Risk Mitigation Project). The St. Lucian consultants addressed the participants on the stakeholder landscape, stakeholder engagement strategy, what worked and did not work and key takeaways.

According to Dominic Alexander, “The World Bank identified the RESDP as a model project with effective stakeholder engagement and thus the session was an opportunity for my colleague and I to share our experiences with other esteemed practitioners in the environmental and social field on what has worked for us in St. Lucia and pitfalls to avoid.”

25/06/2026

Construction of House for Project Affected Household Is Underway

On April 9, 2026, work began on the construction of a hurricane resistant, one-bedroom house for a single-person household who will be physically displaced because of the project's activities in Parc Estate. The household's present residence will be demolished in late August to make way for construction of a storage area for the project thus necessitating its relocation.

The resettlement of the affected household forms part of the project's approved Resettlement Action Plan between the GOSL and the World Bank. The household is also entitled to a relocation allowance to facilitate a smooth transition to its new home.


The contract for constructing the house was awarded to Innov8. Work has been progressing smoothly and the contractor is optimistic that the house will be available to the GOSL for transfer to the project affected household by mid-August. Should the household need to be displaced before completion of the house its sole occupant will be temporarily relocated by the project at GOSL’s expense.