Deltro to build solar panel plant in Barbados

WORK SHOULD SOON start at the island’s first manufacturing plant for solar panels.

Chief financial officer of the Canada-based Deltro Group, Dean Del Mastro, said the company has received town planning approval to build the plant at Kendall Hill, Christ Church on the Transtec site. Construction is expected to finish “very soon”. 

In anticipation of the planning approval, the Deltro Group shipped its manufacturing line to Barbados in 2015, and the equipment has been sitting the Bridgetown Port ever since. He said they are now awaiting the full waiver of the $4 million tariff from the Ministry of Finance in order for the equipment to be released, and work to commence.

The Deltro Group is making a US$20 million investment into the plant, which will employ 120 Barbadians from the start. More locals are expected to be hired as the business gets off its feet. It will run on a 24-hour basis, five days a week.

Town planning approval has also been given for a 70-acre Solar Farm at Waterford, St Michael. The approved voltage is 10 megawatts, Del Mastro said. (YB)