Dominican Republic energy czar says sectors aim to abort call for tenders

Santo Domingo.- The CEO of Dominican Republic’s State-owned Electric Utility (CDEEE) on Monday affirmed that sectors aim to abort the call for tenders to build two coal-fired plants of 300 megawatts each that he affirms are the key to solve the energy sector’s crisis.

Ruben Jimenez Bichara didn’t reveal names or entities however, during the reception of the credentials of 15 local and foreign companies whose representatives submitted the documents in sealed envelopes.

The plants would supply half the 600 megawatt Bichara said, in their participation in the Dialogue Free space is urgently needed to prevent a crisis from generation to the national grid.

Quoted by diariolibre.com on June 10, Jimenez affirmed that by 2019 the development of 1,451 megawatts should materialize, "and there’s space for everyone who wants to enter."

He said the government won’t operate the plants and only aims to solve energy problem by controlling costs. "It’s not that the plants interest us, rather that we need cheap and sustainable generation, which is what is passed on to customers."

The official added that cheap and sustainable generation is what is sought, and that’s only possible by changing the base fuel.