West Indies Power
A geothermal power company that developed and studied renewable-energy projects in the eastern Caribbean.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
West Indies Power was a geothermal power company registered in the Netherlands Antilles in 2001 and headquartered in Charlestown, Nevis, in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Its business focused on identifying, exploring, and developing geothermal resources in small Caribbean island markets where electricity systems were largely dependent on imported fossil fuels. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing utility brand, the company functioned principally as a project developer, concession holder, and prospective electricity producer. The company operated through several regional entities, including West Indies Power (Nevis) Ltd., West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd., and West Indies Power (Saba) B.V. Its stated project footprint covered Nevis, Dominica, and Saba. The Nevis work became its most developed initiative. In February 2007, the Nevis Island Administration granted the company a license to explore the island's geothermal resources, and exploration began that month. Drilling at the Spring Hill site for the proposed Nevis 1 project started in January 2008. A geothermal reservoir was reported to have been discovered on 2 June 2008, followed by geotechnical work in July. A second exploration area, known as Nevis 2, was located near Upper Jessups Village in the parish of St. Thomas, where drilling began in June 2008. The proposed Nevis 1 plant was designed for 50 megawatts of generating capacity. That scale would have exceeded Nevis's estimated local demand of approximately 10 megawatts, allowing the project to serve the island and potentially export electricity to Saint Kitts and other nearby islands through submarine transmission cables. On 29 April 2009, West Indies Power signed a geothermal development contract with the Nevis Island Administration and a power purchase agreement with the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd. The project therefore combined resource development rights with an intended route to market through a local utility. The company also pursued opportunities outside Nevis. In Dominica, the government awarded West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. a geothermal exploration and development license on 10 July 2008. The company later received approval for exploratory drilling in the Soufrière Valley in August 2011. In Saba, West Indies Power was associated with a proposed geothermal plant described as having 75 megawatts of capacity. The available reference material does not establish that these projects reached commercial operation. West Indies Power's Nevis project ultimately lost its development contract. In 2014, the Nevis Island Administration terminated the agreement, citing insufficient actual progress. The termination opened the way for another development group; by 2020, the Nevis geothermal project was being co-developed by NRE International Inc. and the Nevis Island Administration. The available material does not clearly state whether West Indies Power formally dissolved, ceased all operations, or retained interests in other projects after the Nevis termination. Its present corporate status is therefore uncertain. The company was also associated with allegations that it had paid bribes to Dominican government officials to secure its geothermal license, although the supplied reference describes this as an accusation and does not provide a final legal disposition.
History
West Indies Power emerged as a Caribbean geothermal-energy developer registered in the Netherlands Antilles in 2001. Its corporate structure included West Indies Power Holdings B.V. and operating subsidiaries in Nevis, Dominica, and Saba. The company concentrated on geothermal resources because the islands in its target region possess volcanic geology and generally face high electricity costs associated with imported fuel. Its role was primarily to investigate resources, obtain development rights, arrange project financing and utility offtake, and develop prospective generating facilities. Nevis became the company's principal project area. In February 2007, the Nevis Island Administration granted West Indies Power a license to explore the island's geothermal resource. Exploration began immediately. The company planned at least two projects: Nevis 1 at Spring Hill and Nevis 2 near Upper Jessups Village in St. Thomas Parish. Drilling at Spring Hill began in January 2008. A geothermal reservoir was reported on 2 June 2008, and geotechnical work followed in July. Drilling for the Nevis 2 project began on 24 June 2008. The proposed Nevis 1 facility was intended to have 50 MW of capacity. This was substantially larger than Nevis's estimated demand of roughly 10 MW, reflecting a plan to export excess electricity to Saint Kitts and possibly other neighboring islands. The export concept depended on submarine transmission connections. On 29 April 2009, West Indies Power entered into a geothermal contract with the Nevis Island Administration and signed a power purchase agreement with the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd., establishing the basic institutional framework for developing and selling the proposed output. West Indies Power also expanded its regional ambitions. In Dominica, the government granted West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. a geothermal exploration and development license on 10 July 2008. In August 2011, the company obtained approval for exploratory drilling in the Soufrière Valley. The project was accompanied by allegations that the company had paid bribes to Dominican government officials to secure the license; the available reference material identifies the allegation but does not provide a conclusive legal resolution. In Saba, the company was associated with development of a proposed geothermal plant described as having 75 MW of capacity. The supplied sources do not confirm that the Saba or Dominica projects entered commercial generation. The Nevis development subsequently stalled. In 2014, the Nevis Island Administration terminated West Indies Power's geothermal contract, giving insufficient actual progress as the stated reason. The decision ended the company's role under that contract and created an opportunity for a new developer. By 2020, the Nevis geothermal project was being co-developed by NRE International Inc. and the Nevis Island Administration. The available material does not document a formal dissolution of West Indies Power, a later operating portfolio, or the final status of its subsidiaries. Accordingly, the company's current status cannot be reliably classified as active or defunct.
- 2014
Nevis contract termination
[1]The Nevis Island Administration terminated the company's geothermal contract, citing inadequate progress.
- 2011
Dominica drilling approval
[1]The company received approval for exploratory drilling in Dominica's Soufrière Valley.
- 2009
Nevis development agreement
[1]West Indies Power signed a geothermal contract with the Nevis Island Administration and a power purchase agreement with the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd. on 29 April.
- 2008
Spring Hill drilling and reservoir discovery
[1]Drilling for the Nevis 1 project began at Spring Hill in January; a geothermal reservoir was reported on 2 June, followed by geotechnical work.
- 2008
Nevis 2 drilling begins
[1]Drilling began on 24 June at the proposed Nevis 2 project near Upper Jessups Village.
- 2008
Dominica geothermal license
[1]Dominica awarded West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. a geothermal exploration and development license on 10 July.
- 2007
Nevis exploration license
[1]The Nevis Island Administration granted the company a license to explore the island's geothermal resource, and exploration started in February.
- 2001
Company registration
[1]West Indies Power was registered in the Netherlands Antilles as a geothermal power company.
Products and positioning
A Caribbean geothermal project developer focused on converting volcanic-island resources into utility-scale renewable electricity and potentially enabling inter-island power exports.
Geothermal power generation · 2007
Nevis 1 geothermal project
A proposed geothermal generating facility at Spring Hill on Nevis. The project was designed for 50 MW, enough to cover the island's estimated demand of approximately 10 MW while leaving potential surplus for transmission to Saint Kitts and other nearby islands through submarine cables. Drilling began in January 2008, a reservoir was reported in June, and a development contract and power purchase agreement were signed in 2009.
Geothermal exploration · 2008
Nevis 2 geothermal project
A second Nevis exploration and development area near Upper Jessups Village in the parish of St. Thomas. West Indies Power began drilling there on 24 June 2008. The supplied reference does not document a commercial plant or a final generating capacity for this project.
Geothermal exploration and development · 2008
Dominica geothermal project
A geothermal initiative operated through West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. after Dominica granted the subsidiary an exploration and development license in July 2008. Approval for exploratory drilling in the Soufrière Valley followed in August 2011. The supplied material does not confirm commercial generation or the project's final disposition.
Geothermal power generation
Saba geothermal power project
A geothermal power project associated with West Indies Power in Saba and described in the reference material as having 75 MW of planned capacity. No evidence supplied here confirms that the proposed plant entered commercial operation.
Controversies
Alleged bribery connected with Dominica geothermal license
West Indies Power was accused of paying bribes to Dominican government officials in exchange for securing its geothermal exploration and development license. The available reference identifies the allegation but does not establish whether charges, a trial, or a final judgment followed.
Brand decisions
2014
Nevis terminates geothermal contractOtherBackground
The Nevis Island Administration determined that the project had not made sufficient actual progress under West Indies Power's contract.
Action taken
The administration terminated the geothermal contract and made way for a different development group.
Aftermath
By 2020, NRE International Inc. and the Nevis Island Administration were co-developing the Nevis geothermal project.
2009
Formalize Nevis geothermal offtakeStrategyBackground
After exploration and drilling activity on Nevis, the company needed both government development rights and a route for selling any electricity produced.
Action taken
West Indies Power signed a geothermal contract with the Nevis Island Administration and a power purchase agreement with the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd.
Aftermath
The agreement established a proposed commercial framework, but the Nevis Island Administration later terminated the geothermal contract in 2014 because it considered progress inadequate.
Recent events
- 2014
Nevis terminates West Indies Power geothermal contract[1]
Other · Regulation
The Nevis Island Administration ended the geothermal contract, citing a lack of meaningful progress and allowing a different group to pursue the project.
- 2011
Dominica approves exploratory drilling in the Soufrière Valley[1]
Other
West Indies Power received approval for exploratory drilling connected with its Dominica geothermal initiative.
- 2009
West Indies Power signs Nevis geothermal contract and power purchase agreement[1]
Other
The company signed a geothermal contract with the Nevis Island Administration and a power purchase agreement with the Nevis Electricity Company Ltd.
- 2008
Drilling begins at the Nevis 1 Spring Hill site[1]
Other
West Indies Power commenced drilling for its proposed Spring Hill geothermal project, later reporting discovery of a geothermal reservoir and beginning geotechnical work.
- 2008
Dominica awards geothermal license to West Indies Power subsidiary[1]
Other
The Government of Dominica awarded West Indies Power (Dominica) Ltd. a license covering geothermal exploration and development.
- 2007
Nevis grants geothermal exploration license to West Indies Power[1]
Other
The Nevis Island Administration issued West Indies Power a license to explore the island's geothermal resource, and the company began exploration during the same month.
Sources1 sources
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