The main representatives of the energy sector of the Dominican Republic met this Thursday to respond to the crisis affecting the country and said that the blackouts They are the fault of past government administrations that neither planned nor worked on time for the installation of new generation units.
The group was headed by the Minister of Energy and Mines, Anthony Almontewho stated that upon arrival of Louis Abinader to the government, in August 2020, they received an electrical system without reserves, so if a plant went out of operation for maintenance, there was a generation deficit.
They stated that this government does not program blackouts and, that if problems occur, it is due to a generation deficit or breakdowns.
Faced with this crisis situation, Almonte announced that about 250 megawatts will enter tonight to supply the demandwhich will be purchased from companies Falcondo, Sultana del Este and Barrick Gold at the same price as Catalina Point.
“As of the weekend, the Estrella del Mar III generator will be integrating some 150 more megawatts and that means that the situation will be normalizing between now and next Monday”Minister of Energy and Mines
Almonte justified that the main problem of the crisis that we are experiencing today, is that the last government received in 2018 a study on the expansion of electricity demand that established that by 2021 600 new megawatts had to be installed, by 2022 600 more and by 2023 the same amount and they did not do it.
“That is the fundamental cause of the generation deficit that the Dominican is suffering today”the official pointed out.
The head of Energy and Mines assured that since the beginning of 2021 the current government launched a tender for an 800-megawatt plant that was already awarded this week and a gas terminal in Manzanillo, with investment from the private sector.
In addition, he said that another tender for 800 megawatts in several plants is under development to be awarded this year. The demand for electricity in the Dominican Republic grows annually between 3% and 5%.
The minister announced that by the end of this month of May the Thermoelectric Power Plant should start operating again Catalina Point that is going through a maintenance process.
“We have to be honest. None of us know what other plant is going to have a breakdown tomorrow, so we are trying to build reserves so the country doesn’t have to shut down,” he said.
The administrators of the electricity distribution companies of the South, North and East, Milton Morrison, Andrés Cueto and Andrés Astacio, respectively, among other officials, were present at the press conference.
