2019News

CDEEE backs power plants that switch from fuel oil to natural gas

Rubén Bichara / Noticias SIN

The Public Electricity Corporation (CDEEE) says it is facilitating that fuel oil-powered plants switch to natural gas. Ruben Jiménez Bichara, executive vice president of the CDEEE, says that Decree 62-18 authorizes new measures so that companies can recover the conversion cost.

Jiménez Bichara said negotiations are underway for the conversion to natural gas of 730 MW in generation in the east. He said the companies that are making the switch are benefitted with 7-10-year long power purchase agreements.

Among the first beneficiaries of the agreement is the Compañía Eléctrica San Pedro de Macorís (CESPM), formerly Cogentrix, that is converting their 300 MW plant to natural gas and received a 10-year PPA. Another that will benefit is the EGE Haina that will convert their Quisqueya II 215MW to natural gas. Also to make the switch is the EGE Haina Quisqueya I 215MW plant that serves the Barrick Pueblo Viejo mining plant and sells surplus power to the national power grid.

The natural gas conversion deals come concurrently with the announcement by AES Dominicana that it will be building a natural gas pipeline from their terminal in Andrés, Boca Chica to San Pedro de Macorís. Other power plants that could be converted to natural gas in San Pedro de Macorís are the 150MW Sultana del Este and the 60MW Los Orígenes.

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7 February 2019