Castries

The Castries Fishermen’s Cooperative Society Ltd., one of Saint Lucia’s largest and oldest fishing collectives, has completed a technical energy audit with support from the Credit Risk Abatement Facility (CRAF), an initiative of the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF).

Delivered by regional Energy Service Provider EcoCarib, the audit was part of CRAF’s Technical Assistance Programme, designed to help small enterprises develop investment-ready clean energy projects.

The audit identified the potential for electricity savings of up to 29%, with annual energy cost reductions estimated at XCD $13,000. Opportunities for solar PV integration were also evaluated, positioning the Cooperative to improve energy security and reduce long-term operational expenses.

The findings mark an important first step in the cooperative’s journey toward more sustainable and cost-efficient operations. With the audit complete, the organisation is now better equipped to explore implementation options, including financing supported by CRAF’s Credit Risk Instrument (CRI).

The support provided through this initiative reflects CRAF’s ongoing commitment to enabling community-based enterprises to benefit from renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions tailored to the realities of Caribbean small businesses.