At OECS level, energy consumption in the transport sector (road, air and maritime modes) accounts for 40 to 67% of fossil-fuel imports. Furthermore, the electric energy mix in OECS countries remains strongly carbon-based: electricity currently produced represents an average carbon content, for the region as a whole, of 708 g CO²equiv/kWh (compared to a world average of 459 g, WOE 2021 – IEA).
Nevertheless, ambitious goals are in place in most countries to significantly reduce this ratio. The 2027 “CARICOM targets”, for example, aim to achieve energy mixes based on 50 to 70% renewable energies. In this context, clearly the development of electric mobility on the islands of the Caribbean must be discussed.
Public policies in the transport sector vary from one member state to another. The first phase of the study did, however, highlight the following points:
- Transport management systems are organised at national level; some countries have set up a transport agency, which may facilitate the roll-out of a retrofit industry.
- Public transport services are organised in an informal manner, independently of any direct intervention from the government, although the latter does aim to encourage the use of public transport.
- There are driver and taxi associations on Dominica and Saint Lucia.
- Certain countries (Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Guadeloupe and Martinique) have installed E-vehicle charging stations; Saint Kitts & Nevis is currently conducting a pilot study on the use of electric school buses.
To date, the study to establish « an overview of public policies for transport-sector Energy Transition in OECS member states and a pre-feasibility report on vehicle retrofitting in those countries » has led to the drafting of an energy-mix inventory of the situation, today and by 2030, for each OECS member state, as well as an overview of public policies governing the transport sector. The study’s first work phase concluded with the selection of three OECS member states: Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The second phase of the study, concerning the three selected countries, is ongoing and will include, among other items, a review of the current state of vehicle fleets, an economic analysis, an estimation of environmental impacts, and capacity requirements for the roll-out of a retrofit network. The study will conclude with practical recommendations in support of such a sector.