President Leonel Fernández promised blackouts would be history by the time he ends his term in August, 2000. The President emphasized that he is committed to modernize the Dominican Republic, and thus the establishment of a stable electricity service is a top priority. The President called out for "death to blackouts." President Fernández made the comments in San Pedro de Macorís where he traveled to formally leave in operation two 34.5 megawatt plants that will contribute to improve service in the East. During the inauguration, he also announced that the Dominican government is negotiating with a Scotland-U.S. consortium for the purchase of three units that would generate 100 megawatts. He said these three plants, and the others already contracted, will bring to 956 megawatts the total his government will install before August, 2000. The Fernández government has had to catch up, as previous governments were lax in contracting new power plants. In the previous Balaguer administration, the government awarded contracts today deemed onerous to private contractors. President Fernández gave the keynote speech during the placing into operation of two of the five turbogas units purchased from the French company, GEC Alsthom. The turbogas units cost US$71 million. Another three will be installed in the Itabo power plant park and in the Haina power plant park. Once these units are operating, as part of a second phase they will be set up so they can generate an additional 150 megawatts using steam generated to complete a combined cycle operation. During the event, Radhamés Segura, general manager of the Corporación Dominicana de Electricidad, the state electricity utility, promised significant improvement in the electricity service by August 1998. He said that by then, the state will have installed 60% of the 500 megawatts promised in the presidential election campaign of 1996. At present being installed also is a 100 megawatt Siemens power plant. Another floating barge with capacity to generate 30 megawatts will also go on line soon. The barge will be based in Barahona, in the Southwest. Engineer Segura said that the CDE is also improving the substations and 138 kilowatt transmission lines in La Romana, Higüey and El Seibo, as well as the lines that service the industrial free zones in La Romana and San Pedro de Macorís. Among the long range solutions to the energy crisis, he mentioned the rehabilitation of major power plants, such as units Haina I, II, III and IV and Itabo I and II. Radhamés Segura also confirmed that two new 125 megawatt units, Itabo style, have also been contracted. He was mostly likely referring to those contracted with a Spanish firm.
