The executive vice president of the Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE), Ruben Jimenez Bichara, says the government is sourcing power from more expensive generators to compensate from the unexpected temporary shutdown of the 319 MW natural gas-fired AES Andres power plant. The official version for the AES Andres issue is that the plant was affected by lighting and could be out for a year. The outage has increased blackouts, even on 24/7 electrical circuits.
The outage occurred at a time when other key power plants are out of service for maintenance, including Barahona Carbon, capacity 45MW, and 300MW CESPM in San Pedro de Macoris, capacity 300MW that will be off the grid for maintenance. To meet the demand, CDEEE is contracting power from Generadora San Felipe, with capacity to generate 180 MW and Haina Turbo Gas, with capacity for 90 MW, and San Lorenzo, with capacity for 30MW.
Jimenez Bichara said the most difficult period for power supply will be 8 to 15 October, when there will be a 221 MW deficit.
Jimenez Bichara took advantage of the event to stress the importance of completing the 752 MW Punta Catalina coal-fired power central under construction by Odebrecht in Peravia province. He announced the construction of the plant has been completed and tests will start in December. He expects the system could go on the grid in February 2019.
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Diario Libre
17 September 2018
