Wind Energy

Geothermal energy in the Solomon Islands

A group of men from the volcanic Island of Savo, Central Province said the government must actively pursue the proposal to utulise the dormant volcano.

The men said the proposal if succeed would result in their Island contributing immensely to the welfare of people and the economy of Solomon Islands.

An Australian company Kentor Gold’s subsidiary Kentor Energy is looking to dial in to the geothermal energy sector in the country, after being granted a three year prospecting license by the Government.

Kentor Energy plans to study the feasibility of constructing on Savo a geothermal power plant which will potentially supply the entire Honiara grid and provide future extensions to other demand centres on Guadalcanal.

The license centres on the island of Savo, which is a dormant volcano with vigorous geothermal activity.
The deal was struck with a subsidiary of Kentor Gold known as Kentor Energy, which the company plans to divest into a separate self-funded entity in the future.

The Savo men said when they learned of the proposal; they agreed that utulising the dormant volcano would transform the lives of people.

“People will be able to access cheaper power supply produced from our volcanic Island.

“The volcano at the moment lies here without use. Such proposal would be good because people living on the small Island will all benefit in terms of accessing power supply.”

Commenting on the proposal on their website, Kentor Gold managing director Simon Milroy said the Solomon Islands desperately needs cheaper and more reliable power and the country’s development partners and international development banks are very keen to see significant infrastructure investments like this.

"The Solomon Islands Government and the people of Savo are providing great encouragement for the project.”

A legally-binding Surface Access Agreement has already been signed with customary landowners on Savo, and initial fieldwork during 2012 will involve geothermal mapping and a 3D geophysics survey which will focus on identifying an Inferred Geothermal Resource under the Australian Geothermal Reporting Code.

If successful, this will be followed by exploration drilling and estimation of an Indicated Geothermal Resource.

Savo Island is around 35 kilometres from Honiara.

Kentor Gold Limited (Kentor Gold or the Company) is an Australian-based, emerging gold mining company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: KGL).

www.solomonstarnews.com