Kevin Manning, general manager of Ege Itabo, one of the country’s largest power suppliers forecast that Dominicans will feel considerable relief in the medium and short term when new power plants capable of producing almost as much power as available today but at much lower costs enter into the system. He said that within only six more months there will be a lot more power production at much better prices. He mentioned the US$96 million investment his company is making to convert the Itabo I and II to charcoal use. One of the two plants will be ready by the end of this year, another in 2002, with a total capacity of 250 megawatts. He also said that Cogentrix will go online with a 300 megawatt plant, Ege Haina is installing another 150 megawatt plant. And AES Andres is installing a natural gas plant in Punta Caucedo. The government has also announced wind power systems and the installation of power barges.
