The Ministry of Youth, Culture & Sport is aware of the comments raised in some quarters regarding the project to install an energy-saving micro-grid system at the National Sports Centre (NSC). It should be noted that following a tender process where Atlantic Energy Solutions Group (AESG) Limited was selected as the preferred bidder in September 2018, it took 33 months for a contract to be executed and for work to commence in May 2021.
Between that time the project was reviewed and approved by the Minister of Public Works, the Minister of Community Affairs and Sport, then the Minister of Finance as is required by the National Sports Centre Trustees Act. Additionally, the contract documents for this project were reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers.
This project is designed to make the National Sports Centre energy independent, virtually eliminating the approximately $600,000 spent annually on electricity to BELCO. This means less taxpayer funds will be spent on electricity at the National Sports Centre while ensuring more renewable energy is generated in Bermuda. The payments which have been disbursed to date have been done within the terms of the contract, and the Ministry of Youth, Culture & Sport will continue to work with the Trustees of the National Sports Centre to ensure that all financial and project controls required to successfully execute a project of this scale are adhered to.