The British Virgin Islands is now spending roughly $9 million each month on fuel needed to generate electricity, a dramatic increase from the $2 million to $3 million the territory was paying not long ago, according to Minister of Communications and Works Kye Rymer.
Rymer made the disclosure on the Fifth District Dialogue radio programme on Tuesday, linking the surge to fuel price movements beyond the territory's control. For the same volume of fuel imported a year earlier to produce power, the BVI is now paying three to four times as much, he explained.
The escalating bills are straining public finances, even as the government has stepped in with assistance to households. Rymer acknowledged that temporary relief measures cannot continue indefinitely. "The government would have offered some relief, but the relief still is not sustainable, and we must find ways in which we can reduce the cost of generating energy," he said.
In August, the BVI Electricity Corporation reported that fuel purchased in July had cost approximately $6.07 million, with prices reaching a peak of $3.9609 per gallon that month. The government has since provided electricity credits and subsidies for August and September, and on October 1 approved an additional $2.5 million in relief extending through the end of 2026.
To help residents cut their power expenses, Rymer promoted the Solar Technology Energy Programme (STEP), a government-backed initiative with about $1 million in funding. The scheme covers half the installation cost of solar systems for qualifying households. Borrowers can finance the remainder through a loan, with electricity savings applied toward repayment. "It's a live initiative. It's happening, and I would encourage persons to go and sign up for it," Rymer said. He noted that installations are underway and expressed interest in having participating households share their results.
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