Santo Domingo.-The energy service was gradually restored after a powerful blackout occurred for several hours and about which the authorities are investigating whether criminal hands were behind it or it was a simple technical failure.
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, explained that the interruption occurred around 10:50 am, after the trip of the 138 kV Hainamosa–Villa Duarte transmission line, an event that caused a significant drop in generation as an automatic system protection mechanism.
He maintained that from the first minute the protocols established for this type of contingencies were activated, with the objective of restoring the supply as quickly as possible, but maintaining the stability of the system.
“The first steps are always the most difficult. As the lines are heated and the plants are integrated, the system is harmonized and regains stability,” he indicated.
Santos clarified that there is no structural problem in the country’s generating plants.
As he highlighted, the units automatically go out when a disturbance of this magnitude occurs to protect the electrical infrastructure.
“The country’s generation is intact and that is what will allow us to restore the system quite quickly,” he assured.
The minister noted that the system was restarted within the first hour of the event, although its full integration must be carried out gradually to guarantee the stability of the interconnected network.
At 2:10 in the afternoon, demand reached 2,797.59 MWh, while generation stood at just 450.24 MWh, which caused a negative deviation of more than 2,300 MWh.
The difference reflects a significant deficit in electricity consumption coverage during that period.
The report shows that electricity production maintained a relatively stable behavior for much of the day.
However, an abrupt drop was recorded in one of the generation components towards the last hours of the observed interval, which deepened the imbalance in the face of a demand that remained high and with a slight upward trend.
In the breakdown by technology, the combined cycle appeared as one of the main active sources, with a reported power of 1,696.20 MW, although the total figure of effective generation in the period analyzed was considerably below the system demand.
Police reinforced surveillance in blackout
Security. The National Police ordered the general training of administrative and civil personnel as a preventive measure in the face of the situation caused by the general blackout that affected part of the country.
Diego Pesqueira, spokesperson for the institution, explained that, as part of the internal protocols, the aim is to guarantee the capacity to respond to any situation that may require immediate reinforcement in terms of security.
“As usual, when any eventuality happens, you have seen the offices that are dark. These personnel are being trained there to, if necessary, reinforce any type of security matter,” said the colonel.
He specified that this is a routine procedure within the institution’s strategic planning, aimed at keeping agents ready and organized.
