The former executive president of the Dominican Corporation of State Electric Companies (CDEEE), Rubén Bicharahe revealed Thursday that he has never been interrogated in relation to a complaint against him alleged corruptionwhich was presented in 2021, by the then executive vice president of the Unified Council of the EDES, Andrés Astacio.
The former official also said that he never had any type of Relationship with Maxy Montillawho recently agreed to return more than 3,000 million pesos as part of the resolution of a case of alleged corruption.
“I was in the CDEE last eight years there, and I never had Relationship with Maxy MontillaI had neither because, neither he with me nor me with him, there was nothing to justify a relationship, I did not buy, he could not sell me, “said Bichara.
He added that there was nothing to justify any Type of relationship with Montillabrother -in -law of former president Danilo Medina.
“There was never a need, because He had no need to talk to me or mebecause what I was going to talk to him, I had nothing to buy and he had nothing to sell to me, “he added.
Argued that CDEEE has no territoryneither how to buy materials or anything, because it has nowhere to use them.
“So, The CDEEE cannot have links with a supplierwhen it does not have a land to use it. It can have a domestic assistance, but you cannot buy material in large quantity, because it has no territory, “he said.
Continuous blackouts
Rubén Bicharaattributed the problem of continuous blackouts that affect the Dominican Republic to the Lack of planning and prevention in the Electric sector.
After making the statement, Bicara wondered what would be about the Dominican daily life If it had not been built Punta Catalina in the last government of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD).
“What would the Dominican economy be if those 700 and megawatt peak (from Punta Catalina) Will they get out of there? Where do you have to look for them in the park? And down there with energy five times more expensive. The deficit would be not at 2,000, (millions of dollars) would be 4,000 million a year the deficit of the Electric sector“Bicara said at the same time asking to recognize the truth in the case of Punta Catalina.
Before the Energy situationBichara considered that this is resolved with a accelerated plan And that, in addition, it can be sustainable.
On whether planning has been lacking by the government, Bichara considered Yes, putting as an example of what is expected for the summer next year in terms of increasing the demand for electricity.
“Of course (planning has lacked), because we are going to assume next year, 2026, for the summer, it is known that there will be 30% more energy demand. From now floors They must have maintenance? Let’s see it now so that it does not come out on that critical date. You have all that time to plan, “said the former official in the radial program El Sol in the morning by the Zol FM station.
Says Decree is sample Lack of planning
When asked about him Decree 517-25signed by President Luis Abinader, in which the Dominican government has declared of “National emergency“All purchases and hiring linked to Electric sectorBichara considered that it is a sample of the Lack of planning.
“It is precisely a sign that there is no planning, because if the crisis is to the point that is, if I go to procedural the time that takes me I will cross next year … that for me has no other reading other than the Lack of planningwhich motivates such a decree, “he added.
Recognize Punta Catalina
Bicara said that with Punta Catalina The deficit was mitigated financially.
“Because if a mathematical exercise is done, if Catalina now provides minimum 250 million dollars, plus 300 savings in purchases, the deficit was in 480, the deficit was mitigated financially the deficit was mitigated. What we have now is that the own itself Lack of planning And prevention and delay in the works has generated this situation, “he said.
Reiterated that “this is nothing more resolved with a accelerated planfirst of maintenance“He added that there are processes that take time.
“But What does it mean to do a transformer? Sometimes a transformer takes you for six months. They are power transformers that are not in stock. You can’t say, go and give me one. No, you have to send it. Just as there are some who are, there are others that do not. For a substation, you are not going to ask for a transformer in the market. You have to send it … that can take more than six months for a transformer in some cases. So, here is a plan sustainablethat can be carried out, “he said.
