“The Dominican Economy: challenges and opportunities” seminar ended its second day of work with a joint demand for an end to the energy crisis by means of the complete application of the General Electricity Law and the revision of the contracts now in force with the power producers. Ramon Flores, one of the founders of the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), and president of the Technology Foundation, called for “difficult decisions” in order to solve the crisis. Eduardo Rodriguez, a government consultant in the energy field, told the seminar that the government could not renegotiate the existing contracts with the power generators if it does not have the ability to obtain the needed resources, since there are no more resources to pay the existing debt with the generators or to pay the subsidy. Ede-Sur administrator Ruben Bichara said that there is no way to end the blackouts, especially at this time with the oil crisis and the need to conserve fuel. He suggested that the government establish reasonable goals and clean up some of the outstanding accounts. Bichara said that if the government could make pledges or guarantees for the current debt, and if they dismantle the pledges of the debt owed to the Union Fenosa, the municipal governments and other loans, the government would saveUS$11 million each month. If this were to occur, EdeSur’s representative said that the government would not have to pay a penny in subsidies.
In his closing speech, President Leonel Fernandez called for the revision of the contracts with the electricity generators, and, at the same time, emphasized the need to pay for electricity. The President also announced that the government had approved the installation of a 50 MW wind power facility in the Bani area, in Peravia Province.