Nations Struggle
They strive to meet energy demands with
imported diesel
By Derek Baldwin, Chief Reporter Published: 14:51 October 23, 2012
Dubai: Tiny island countries are at a crossroads in their histories as they strive on limited budgets to meet energy demands fuelled by outside diesel imports critical to electricity generation.
But the answers to finding a more sustainable future energy solution lie within each of the island country’s borders, not without, said several heads of state in their addresses to delegates at the World Energy Forum in Dubai on Monday.
The opening marks the first time the energy forum has been held outside of its host country of the United States where it is organized by the United Nations.
T op leaders from around the world are attending.
A very frank Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said his 32-island country can no longer carry on the status quo of depending on fossil fuels to keep the lights on, appliances running and government buildings humming.
By Derek Baldwin, Chief Reporter Published: 14:51 October 23, 2012
Dubai: Tiny island countries are at a crossroads in their histories as they strive on limited budgets to meet energy demands fuelled by outside diesel imports critical to electricity generation.
But the answers to finding a more sustainable future energy solution lie within each of the island country’s borders, not without, said several heads of state in their addresses to delegates at the World Energy Forum in Dubai on Monday.
The opening marks the first time the energy forum has been held outside of its host country of the United States where it is organized by the United Nations.
T op leaders from around the world are attending.
A very frank Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, said his 32-island country can no longer carry on the status quo of depending on fossil fuels to keep the lights on, appliances running and government buildings humming.
On the contrary, the country’s legislators are
looking to alternative means of reducing
energy consumption while seeking new
renewable sources of energy such as
geothermal power as well as public
education campaigns to lighten the load on
island power-generating plants.
“The real game changer is geothermal — we have enough of a geothermal resource, about five times our current peak consumption,” he said. “The problem is we need the money to get it. We have to get to source points.”
Drilling on the side of a volcano to get the underground heat sources will be expensive.
Gonsalves said that he hopes the World Energy Forum will give him a venue for advice as to how his country can raise the start-up capital needed to fund the geothermal venture.
Currently, his country meets 20 per cent of energy demand through hydroelectric power generation with the remainder through diesel-powered electricity generation.
Maldives President Mohammad Waheed Hassan Manik echoed the hopes and aspirations of other presidents in the hunt for alternative energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
“T oday we spend the equivalent of 20 percent on our GDP on the importation of diesel fuel for our electricity and transportation.”
“The real game changer is geothermal — we have enough of a geothermal resource, about five times our current peak consumption,” he said. “The problem is we need the money to get it. We have to get to source points.”
Drilling on the side of a volcano to get the underground heat sources will be expensive.
Gonsalves said that he hopes the World Energy Forum will give him a venue for advice as to how his country can raise the start-up capital needed to fund the geothermal venture.
Currently, his country meets 20 per cent of energy demand through hydroelectric power generation with the remainder through diesel-powered electricity generation.
Maldives President Mohammad Waheed Hassan Manik echoed the hopes and aspirations of other presidents in the hunt for alternative energy sources to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
“T oday we spend the equivalent of 20 percent on our GDP on the importation of diesel fuel for our electricity and transportation.”
He pointed out that the Maldives’ electrical
generating cost is a whopping 75 cents per
kilowatt hour, a burden that “is unaffordable,
especially in rural communities. Our country
is providing heavy fuel subsidies, we have no
option but to move to smart fuel policies.”
Manik said his country has no other option than to pursue low carbon policies to stave off higher and higher fossil fuel costs.
His country is working on developing capacity of its utilities, promoting strong business models to attach and integrate private investment into the energy sector and is strengthening legislation for stonger investment frameworks for energy projects, he said.
Ultimately, if current efforts in Maldives move in the direction that leaders propose, Manik said he believed that the country will save 22 million litres of diesel per year and reduce its carbon footprint by 65,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.
Manik said his country has no other option than to pursue low carbon policies to stave off higher and higher fossil fuel costs.
His country is working on developing capacity of its utilities, promoting strong business models to attach and integrate private investment into the energy sector and is strengthening legislation for stonger investment frameworks for energy projects, he said.
Ultimately, if current efforts in Maldives move in the direction that leaders propose, Manik said he believed that the country will save 22 million litres of diesel per year and reduce its carbon footprint by 65,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases annually.
posted by Karl Eklund at 7:04 AM
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