Almost eight years after the initiation of diplomatic relations with The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on September 29, 2016, a delegation of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) arrived in St. Kitts and Nevis on Sunday, February 11, 2024, to evaluate the geothermal project on Nevis.
General Director of Credit Operations, Mr. Ayman Mohammed Tulaihi, led the delegation, which included Eng. Ali Mohammed Alsanan, Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Alshabibi, Mr. Abdullah Khaled Alsugair, and Eng. Khayal Fahad Abalkhail.
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the Honourable Konris Maynard, Minister of Energy, escorted the delegation to Nevis for a courtesy visit with the Honourable Premier Mark Brantley and an evaluation of the geothermal site at Hamilton.
Minister Maynard and Premier Brantley issued brief statements to the press before engaging the delegation in a short discussion during the visit to the Premier’s Office.
Minister Maynard highlighted the importance of the SFD’s assessment of the geothermal project in his remarks, calling the move a significant one. He also mentioned several meetings with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss partnerships. These meetings included discussions on the sidelines of the CARICOM Summit in Saudi Arabia (2023) and COP 28 in Dubai.
Minister Maynard ended his remarks by thanking the government and various stakeholders for facilitating geothermal energy exploration with the SFD.
Premier Brantley formally welcomed Minister Maynard and the SFD delegation to Nevis. He recalled initiating diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Minister of Foreign Affairs and referred to the delegation’s visit as a natural progression of that relationship.
After the courtesy visit, the group journeyed to the geothermal site at Hamilton, where the General Manager of the Nevis Electricity Company (NEVLEC), Albert Gordon, and the Project Coordinator for NEVLEC’s Project Management Unit, Naftalie Errar, were on site for the assessment.
Mr. Errar informed the delegation that test results on the wells at Hamilton were favourable. He also mentioned plans to construct three production wells and a power plant to meet the baseline demand for St. Kitts and Nevis.
