RESDP Progress Report

Social Development & Safeguards

Payments to all Economically Active and Physically Displaced Households on Project Sites Ongoing

During the months of April to June, payments of compensation to cover asset loss and resettlement costs for farming and physically displaced households on land to be acquired, purchased or leased for the Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (RESDP) in the drilling communities of Belvedere, Belle Plaine and Saltibus continued. During this period, an additional $526,428.53 was paid out. To date, the total sum paid to affected households for structures, crop loss, farm income loss, farm restoration support and resettlement and transition allowance is EC$991,154.41.

Compensation payments for these eligible households began in January after the project’s Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) was approved by the World Bank in December 2025. According to World Bank social safeguards requirements, compensation must be paid in full to all affected households before the Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL) takes possession of any land that the displaced households occupy or structures they utilize. Compensation payments for affected households are expected to be completed in July 2026.

Besides monetary compensation, a one-bedroom house to resettle one physically displaced household of Parc Estate is presently being constructed in the same area and construction is soon to commence of a two-bedroom house for a displaced household of Belvedere, Fond St. Jacques. The former is expected to be ready for handover to the displaced owner in October and the latter by year’s end. Should either household need to be displaced before completion of their resettlement house they will be temporarily relocated by the project at GOSL’s expense.

World Bank Representative Conducts Monitoring Visits with Project Affected Persons

As part of the project’s post-compensation monitoring of RAP implementation, representatives of the RESDP and the World Bank conducted visits to six project affected households (PAHs) in mid-May. The visit provided the project and the World Bank the opportunity to verify that compensation was received, its adequacy and how it had been utilized; assessed the well-being of PAHs; and identified any remaining concerns or support needs.

The monitoring exercise was undertaken by the RESDP’s Community Liaison Officer, Windia Jaunai, the Social Development and Safeguards Officer, Dominic Alexander, and the World Bank's Senior Social Development Specialist, Sanjay Agarwal.

Throughout the visits, the team engaged directly with the heads of the affected households to better understand their experiences following the receipt of compensation and to ensure that the commitments outlined in the RAP continue to be fulfilled. The exercise reinforced the project's commitment to maintaining open communication and transparency throughout implementation.

In highlighting the importance of maintaining direct engagement with project affected persons (PAPs) beyond the compensation payment period, the project’s safeguards specialist, Dominic Alexander, stated "Our responsibility does not end when compensation is paid. These monitoring visits allow us to understand how PAHs are progressing, address any concerns that may arise, and ensure that the commitments made under the RAP continue to improve the lives of those affected by the project." “Continued monitoring is an essential component of good social safeguards practice, allowing the project to evaluate outcomes, respond to community needs, and ensure that affected persons continue to receive appropriate support throughout project implementation,” he added.

The PAPs interviewed welcomed the opportunity to meet with the project team and share updates on their circumstances. One PAP from Belvedere, Fond St. Jacques, expressed appreciation for the continued follow-up by the project team. "I appreciate that the team came back to check on us. It shows that the project genuinely cares about what happens after compensation is received. It gave me the chance to explain how the funds have helped my family and to ask questions about the next steps" the PAP said. The RESDP remains committed to implementing the World Bank's Environmental and Social Safeguards through meaningful stakeholder engagement, responsible resettlement practices, and ongoing monitoring that places people at the centre of project development.

Cabinet Approves All Land Purchases, Leases and Acquisitions to Undertake the RESDP

During the months of May and June, the Cabinet of Ministers provided its approval for purchase, lease and acquisition of 7.34 acres of lands required for exploration activities under the RESDP. Resultantly, all lands required for exploration activities is now under the management of the RESDP. This is a major project milestone which clears the way for signing the civil works contract and the commencement of project civil works.

To prove and explore the economic viability of Saint Lucia’s geothermal resources, exploration drilling is required. To undertake this activity the country must prepare the supporting infrastructure. Land is required to build supporting infrastructure such as well pads, roads, material and equipment storage, office and parking space.

Overall, 11.79 acres are needed for exploration activities. However, last year, 4.45 acres of Crown land was vested by the Cabinet of Ministers (Cabinet) with the project for its use leaving a shortfall of 7.34 acres. The Cabinet has now approved that this outstanding amount of land be obtained through a combination of purchases, leases and acquisitions. More specifically, it provided its approval for 2.3 acres to be purchased and 2.8 acres to be leased in open market voluntary transactions, and 2.24 acres to be acquired through the Land Acquisition Act.

It is important to note that GOSL’s preference was for purchases and leases, only. However, acquisitions became necessary in cases where the registered landowner died intestate and there were multiple generations of heirs with no administrator appointed to administer the estate of the deceased. In such circumstances, the PIU worked with the families to put together their family tree and paid for the appointment of an administrator for the family. Due to the length of the application process in probate court, these appointments are still pending.

To obtain the required lands, memos detailing the relevant purchases, leases and acquisitions had to be prepared and submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers for its approval. All memos were submitted to the Cabinet in May and June, and Cabinet Conclusions confirming approval of their contents were received in the same months.

These approvals clear the way for the Attorney General’s Chambers and landowners and/or representatives to sign the deeds of sale or lease agreements, the publication of the relevant Declarations of Acquisition in the Saint Lucia Gazette, and the processing of payments. As a requirement of  the financing arrangement between GOSL and the World Bank, the former will make all payments to the landowning families before taking possession of their land. In cases, where the appointment of administrators is pending, a preliminary sum representing the open market value of the property plus a transaction cost will be held in an escrow account for the family. On appointments, administrators will negotiate

Environmental Safeguards

Work Commences on Establishment of Seven Seismic Monitoring Stations in Southwest Saint Lucia

During the month of June, a team from the University of the West Indies-Seismic Research Centre  (UWI-SRC), led by engineering seismologist, Dr. Ilias Papadopoulos, constructed the foundation of the physical infrastructure for seven (7) seismic monitoring stations (SMSs) in the southwest of the island. SMSs are being established in L’Esperance, Belle Plaine and Fond St. Jacques, Soufriere; La Maze, Choiseul; and Saltibus and Daban, Laborie, The SMSs will form a Seismic Monitoring Network

(SMN) to monitor surface vibrations in the areas around the drilling sites in Belvedere, Belle Plaine and Saltibus. According to project environmental specialist, Michael Andrew, “The construction and operation of these SMSs represent the fulfilment of a commitment made by the project’s PIU to monitor vibrations from civil and drilling works during the implementation stage of the project.  This commitment required a change to the project design and arose out of stakeholder concerns about the potential effects of civil and drilling works on their nearby houses and structures.” The SMSs will be in use until project closure

With the physical infrastructure under construction, the establishment of the SMSs is about 75% complete. The remaining work will be completed in August when installation of the seismic monitoring equipment and supportive accessories will be undertaken. Thereafter, the entire SMN will become fully functional.

The lands on which the SMSs are being established were identified through a collaboration between the PIU and UWI-SRC. Proposed land use was discussed with landowners and later, compensation arrangements with those who agreed to the use of their land. Thereafter, each landowner submitted a letter of consent for the work to proceed while awaiting compensation, and later, signed a Service Agreement (SA) with the project lasting for a 24-month period.

As a requirement of the SA, all landowners will be paid a one-time lump sum for hosting the SMSs on their property and for any crop loss experienced when clearing the area for establishing the SMSs. All SMSs will be enclosed within a fenced area to avoid animal and human interference. The RESDP urges the public to desist from interfering with the SMSs and to report any sightings of interference, vandalism or theft to (758) 732-0018.

As a complementary activity, a Building Condition Survey was conducted. The survey findings will serve as baseline data for monitoring the structural effects of civil and drilling works, if any reports of damage are received.

Technical Coordination

Construction of House for Project Affected Household Well Underway

Work on the construction of a disaster resilient, one-bedroom house for a single-person household who will be physically displaced, as part of the project's activities in Parc Estate, is well underway. On completion, the single occupant will be re-settled to the new house and previous residence will be demolished to make way for construction of a storage area for the project.

The resettlement of the affected household forms part of the project's approved RAP. The household is also entitled to and has been paid a relocation allowance to facilitate a smooth transition to its new home. The construction contract was awarded to Innov8 Inc., with site activities commencing on April 9, 2026

As of late June, the project has transitioned into the superstructure phase, marked by the completion of the concrete floor slab and the initiation of block wall installation.

During the construction process, a quality assurance review identified a material non-conformance involving sub-standard concrete during a foundation pour. In accordance with strict project standards, a temporary stop-work order was implemented, and remedial actions are in progress to resolve the issue and guarantee the building's structural integrity. Despite this brief pause, the contractor remains targeted toward completing the structure by October 2026. Should any scheduling alignment require the household to relocate prior to the final handover, the GOSL is prepared to facilitate temporary accommodation at its expense to ensure continuous housing security.