Recently, JRG Energy completed fieldwork in the West Indies in support of MFAT’s FRENZ program – the New Zealand Caribbean Renewable Energy Facility. The geothermal components of this program are focused on four countries in the Lesser Antilles volcanic island arc – Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In Dominica, the government is undertaking an economic feasibility analysis for a geothermal-based Green Industrial Eco Park in the northern part of the country. In April/May 2024, Keg Alexander, Scott Herman, and Pablo Aguilera of JRG provided geothermal technical assistance to undertake geological and geochemical field surveys and oversee the implementation of the supplemental MT field survey. The work included mapping geologic features, sampling of thermal features (including undersea thermal springs), and coordinating the MT data acquisition with the University of West Indies. JRG staff also led local capacity-building efforts through collaboration with Dominica State College. This included presentations to DSC students on geothermal resource assessment and safety around geothermal features, a demonstration of laboratory preparation of sample bottles, and a field trip to collect water samples from a thermal spring. The results of the field surveys will be used by JRG to update the conceptual model of the northern Dominica geothermal resource and identify exploration drilling targets and preliminary well pad locations.
In Grenada, the FRENZ program is supporting the Government of Grenada in preparation for the drilling of two slimhole exploration wells to nominal depths of 1500 – 2000 m. JRG is providing technical assistance in geoscience, geothermal drilling, geotechnical and civil engineering disciplines along with commercial advisory, specifically on procurement and contracting. In May 2024, Charlene Joubert and Keg Alexander of JRG spent a couple of weeks in northern Grenada supervising the geotechnical works and sampling at two different sites. The work also included groundwater investigations and the installation of shallow groundwater wells for baseline monitoring in compliance with the project ESIA. The results of the geotechnical investigation will be used for the design and construction of the exploration well pads and associated infrastructure.
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