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Barbuda’s first hybrid power station opens – PM Browne calls on Barbudans to join government in advancing Barbuda

CODRINGTON, Barbuda – 16 March 2024….. The government’s stated goal of making Barbuda a ‘green’ island took a major step towards becoming a reality with the opening last Friday of Antigua and Barbuda’s first hybrid power station on Barbuda.

The occasion brought together the leaders of the government and the Barbuda People’s Movement and Council to share the stage and to express support for the project where the island is powered during the daylight hours by power from the solar panels. In the evening, the engines are powered by diesel fuel.

Funding for the project was sought by the Prime Minister during a visit to Dubai in 2018. After getting an agreement for the funding, work started in 2019.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne called out members of the Barbuda Council at Friday’s handing over of the Green Barbuda power plant in Codrington telling them to stop trying to block the development for the island and to join his government in spearheading progress for Barbuda.

In delivering the feature address to the ceremony, PM Browne started off noting that the opening of the plant was for him ‘a special moment’.

He recalled the many struggles that were involved in getting the project to fruition reminding the audience that it was his government’s vision that Barbuda should be an island community fully powered by renewables.

He said he recognized Barbuda’s potential when he visited back in 2012 and it was then that he gave a commitment to do everything so that Barbuda would develop alongside Antigua as an equal partner in the unitary state.

He called on the members of the Barbuda Council to lock arms with the government in an effort to move the island ahead. Throughout this aspect of his presentation there were loud comments from several ladies who were members of the council.

Rather than becoming daunted by their comments, PM Browne decided to deal with them directly. “There seems to be some sort of disconnect here in which members of the Barbuda Council do not want to give the government credit for developing this great island.

I have said before, stand on the truth. You cannot see the advancement of Barbuda taking place and then argue that nothing is being done,” he indicated.

He said that despite the ‘obstructionist posture’ of the Barbuda Council, his government will continue to advance Barbuda and its people as his vision includes seeing the island eclipse many other high-end Caribbean destinations as the leading vacation spot in the region.

The main funding for the Green Barbuda power plant was provided by the United Arab Emirates. Its Ambassador to Cuba, H.E Hazza Ahmed Al Kaabi, revealed that the Barbuda project is just one of several that the UAE is funding in the Caribbean.

He said his country is happy to assist developing states with the transition to renewable energy sources.

The project was coordinated by Masdar, a company set up by the UAE to manage its renewable energy projects around the world.

Funding was also provided by the Caribbean Fund for Development, CDF, through a loan of US$1 million. CDF’s Director of Regional Development, Lenox Forte, said the formal commissioning of this power plant marks a significant milestone in the region’s collective journey towards a brighter and environmentally sustainable future.

It represents a leap forward in our pursuit of energy independence and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Total Cost of the project is US$6 million consisting of: US$4m from UAE Government through its Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs; US$1m CARICOM Development Fund (loan to GoAB) US$.5 million grant from Government of New Zealand; and US$.5 million Government of Antigua and Barbuda Counterpart Costs

The project consists of 3110 sq. ft. state-of-the-art solar hybrid electricity plant utilizing a 720 Kw solar photovoltaic system, an 863 KwH battery storage system, and an 800 Kw diesel generator.

Operation of the plant results in savings of 69,000 gallons of diesel annually as well as an annual avoidance of 7,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions which would have been produced in a fossil fuel business-as-usual scenario. (Ends)