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VI consuming $26.16M in fossil fuel per year- Premier Fahie

- Proposes reducing fossil fuel consumption by 60% in coming years
The Henry Wilfred 'Freddie' Smith Power Station at Pockwood Pond. With a consumption of approximately one million gallons of fossil fuel per month, the Virgin Islands (VI) is burning $2.18 million in fossil fuel per month at base cost, which works out to roughly $26.16 million per year, according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1). Photo: VINO
The Government of the Virgin Islands has said it is pressing forward to meet green energy targets and to ensure that this is done properly and in a timely manner. Photo: Internet Source
The Government of the Virgin Islands has said it is pressing forward to meet green energy targets and to ensure that this is done properly and in a timely manner. Photo: Internet Source
According to Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) as the economy grows, fuel consumption will grow even further beyond the 1 million gallons per month resulting in even more money leaving the shores. Photo: VINO/File
According to Premier Andrew A. Fahie (R1) as the economy grows, fuel consumption will grow even further beyond the 1 million gallons per month resulting in even more money leaving the shores. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - With a consumption of approximately one million gallons of fossil fuel per month, the Virgin Islands (VI) is burning $2.18 million in fossil fuel per month at base cost, which works out to roughly $26.16 million per year, and $130.8 million over five years, according to Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1).

Premier Fahie made this revelation in a statement released on February 13, 2020, where he detailed plans for adopting greener energy approaches in the Territory.

"The BVI people and our economy lose $26.16 million every year by importing fossil fuel," he said, noting that the money is leaving the shores of the Territory to enrich other countries and other economies.

Reducing Fossil Fuel consumption

He said as the economy grows, fuel consumption will grow even further beyond the 1 million gallons per month, resulting in even more money leaving the shores.

"Green energy is free. Thus, by reducing our fossil fuel consumption by 60 per cent, we can reduce this leakage by about $15.7 million per year, based on the current usage and prices. That would be savings for the people of the Virgin Islands of $78.5 million dollars over the next five years." 

According to Premier Fahie, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and LPG represent cleaner and cheaper fuels which will result in further savings and benefits for the VI people when the Territory switches to CNG and LPG for the remaining 40 per cent of its fuel needs.

Investing in other areas 

The Leader of Government business noted that with the money saved from switching to cleaner energy, Virgin Islanders will be able to spend on other things, such as improving homes and properties, buying food or educating and caring for children, or put into savings.

"That is money that can strengthen the BVI’s economy instead of some other country’s economy," he noted.

Premier Fahie said the possibilities for VI families will be great, given funds will not be going abroad but instead utilised to improve the local quality of life.

"Imagine the amount of pollution we can cut down on by reducing the consumption of dirty fossil fuel by 60 percent or more."

Hon Fahie continued, "We can do it. And, together, we will do it by transitioning away from fossil fuel and into green energy with you the people at the centre of it all, participating, saving, earning and preserving and protecting our natural environment."

Experts being called in 

The Premier said Government is pressing forward to meet green energy targets and to ensure that this is done properly and in a timely manner they will be soliciting the services of an energy expert to work between the Premier's Office and the BVIEC Board so that the green energy transformation is a success.

12 Responses to “VI consuming $26.16M in fossil fuel per year- Premier Fahie”

  • VI residnet (17/02/2020, 19:17) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Green energy is not free. It requires a large capital investment as well as constant maintenance. Turbines and solar panels can be damaged by hurricanes, thus requiring replacement. Thee is no "free" ride. Most panels come from China so you are spending money in another country. Government needs to be real and explain the "total" cost of projects.
  • Eagle Eye (17/02/2020, 19:56) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Y'all have bviec workers at pock wood pond working in that pollution for small $$$ everyday. They soon get fed up and strike again.
  • not so (17/02/2020, 20:02) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    What he thinks? you just put solar panels on the roof and then forget it? those things need mentanence foy
  • HMMM (17/02/2020, 23:04) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    more wishful thinking
  • Fifteen Years Ago! (18/02/2020, 02:19) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Several years ago during the then VIP administration, it was arranged for a Danish citizen living in the BVIs, well versed in Wind Energy, to meet with the Minister of Communications and works, to discuss the introduction of Wind Turbines as a part of the country's electricity supply. Denmark is a leading manufacturer of Wind Turbines; having invested greatly in research and discovery in Renewable Energy during the 1970s resulting in some 42+% of the country's electricity currently being generated from Wind Energy. The idea was that of reducing Energy Cost, Reducing the Carbon Footprint, while Reducing the amount of moneys Exiting the treasury. It was estimated at the time that a single Windmill installed on Anegada could supply the island's total electricity needs as well as well as all the Hot Water requirement. Ten Wind Turbines installed on Virgin Gorda in areas such as the Copper Mine, Gorda Peak and the Baths area, all National Parks owned by the government and the state, could have reduce the islands electricity consumption significantly.
    MAINTENANCE: Very low; with each windmill having an inbuilt computer practically monitoring and Self-reporting; pinpointing correction measures in cases of malfunctions or interruption of operation. In cases of hurricanes, the blades could easily be dismantled, stored and replaced after passage of the storm..
    THE MEETING:
    The gentleman did meet with the minister but was told that he would have to meet with the other ministers to discuss the proposition. GUESS WHAT: The meeting with his fellow ministers never happened. Would anyone care to guess WHY? To be left to the imagination. Thus, No Reduced Electricity Cost; No Reduced Carbon Footprint and Certainly Millions upon millions continuing to Gush out of the country.. Meanwhile the cost of a Wind Turbines would have more than triple. RESULT? Just as the honorable premier reported:$2-million plus per month. Is it any wonder private and government buildings are still unrepaired 2 years plus since hurricane Irma ...and only few months away from another hurricane season. May God continue Watching over our country.
  • idea (18/02/2020, 07:03) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    The social security board just funded 50 million dollars Worth of new Equipment to the BVIEC. I beleive a study was done before this investment and found out that gaz is not a good Financial proposition to the BVI, should check with the previous chairman.

    Solar Investment by homeowners and sending electricity back to the grid is still the best option, in my opinion.
  • Fahie Pleeease (18/02/2020, 07:40) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply

    You are so concerned about clean air and heathy living but a new gas station in your backyard in a pond and residential area? While there is an already established one a few paces away in Freshwater pond? 

  • Greener pastures (18/02/2020, 12:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    For far, far too long myopic visionaries at BVI Electricity have ignored the potential of wind power (and solar as well) for the territory. Out with them!!!
  • GG (18/02/2020, 16:35) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    That’s about $ 800 per capita per day. Maybe we need to raise the departure tax or something......
  • @Fifteen Years Ago! (19/02/2020, 19:40) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We have come a long way from the days since we were risking our lives moving to the Big Apple, being looked at as Strangers in Big Apple Land. But at this pace, when "Country Above Self" is just another empty, lifeless expression, how far can we be expected to go, when voters vest powers in politicians to Govern "in the best interest of their country", but Politicians take it to mean "Self First; Country After"?
  • alternatives work (19/02/2020, 20:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sir Branson looked at installing wind turbines in 2015 but did not go through with it due to the cost of the road to the top of the hill. Not the cost of the equipment.
    The reality is that wind and solar power does have a big initial investment but the cost savings here would be much greater than anywhere else as we have no natural gas powered turbines etc. The cost of Diesel is not going down anytime soon and each increase in price would only accelerate the payback.
    I have personally been involved in the construction of both solar and wind farms and i truly believe that Tortola would be a poster child for doing it.


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