Work is progressing smoothly on the new US$50 million Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) power plant now under construction at the Crabbes Peninsula.
That update was provided during a tour of the facility on Tuesday led by utilities minister, Melford Nicholas.
Also part of the tour were representatives of Antigua Power Company Ltd. (APCL), including its chairman, Francis Hadeed and Chief Executive Officer, Calid Hassad.
Hadeed said the project is one of the largest undertakings of its kind in Antigua and Barbuda as it involves the installation of a new 40-megawatt power plant that will use LNG instead of diesel to generate electricity.
The project is more impressive as upon its completion it will also serve as an LNG terminal that will supply the power plant, cruise ships and other LNG power plants in the sub-region.
“Antigua and Barbuda will be the only country in the sub-region that will be able to supply and distribute LNG.
“This plant is like no other in the area; it will be powered by LNG and Antigua and Barbuda stands to benefit by having this LNG plant.
“For example, most of the cruise ships are now using LNG to provide electricity and we will be able to supply them right here in Antigua. This is a plus for us,” he remarked.
He disclosed that APCL is partnering with Eagle LNG which is based in Houston, Texas, to construct the LNG terminal which has the full support of the US Embassy in Barbados.
“We are very proud of what we have been able to achieve, and I must say, for an Antigua and Barbuda company to bid on this project against heavyweights like Shell, Total, Natural Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago, yet due to our performance and our prices, we were able to come out on top,” he stated.
Hadeed said the power plant is earmarked for completion in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Meanwhile, Minister Nicholas said the new LNG Power Plant marks a “step-change” in the government’s goal to wean the country off its reliance on carbon producing, heavy fuel power generation in favour of more environmentally friendly LNG and renewable energy sources like solar and wind power.
“At the recent United Nations COP26 meeting, the government gave a commitment that by 2030 as much as 30 percent of the electricity would be generated by renewables as we move to reducing our carbon footprint.
“This new plant will soon generate much of our electricity and it will do so at a much cleaner rate than the other fossil fuel,” he explained.
Minister Nicholas noted that the government is mindful of the growing need for electricity with new hotel plants coming on stream and the construction of several housing developments.
This, he said, necessitates significant investment in power generation to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity.
