Abandoned about fifteen years ago, geothermal research projects could resume soon under the leadership of Albioma.
The energy company obtained an exclusive research permit in the Cilaos and Salazie cirques at the beginning of March, at the foot of Piton des Neiges. Albioma immediately gave up prospecting in the Mafate cirque, in the heart of the national park, for obvious environmental reasons. The group benefits from the expertise of two recently acquired Turkish geothermal power plants and has the support of the Regional Council and the municipalities of Cilaos and Salazie to advance this project.. He must now identify land where he could drill to reach pockets of hot water and obtain land control., as well as drilling authorizations. These procedures will last several years. If the drilling produces the expected results, a geothermal plant, with a power of 5 to 15 megawatts, could see the light of day at the beginning of the next decade. In case of failure of his research, Albioma requests compensation, already in force in mainland France in this scenario.
