The energy deficit reaches 60% due to drought and heat wave

SD. The executive vice-president of the Dominican Corporation of State-owned Electricity Enterproses (CDEEE), Ruben Bichara, revealed yesterday that energy production has fallen by 60%.

He said that production was at 40% of what because of the heat energy consumption increases and also because of the problem of the drought.

On the other hand, he reiterated that the Dominican state is not trying to ompete with the private sector by entering into thr business of electricity generation.

He recalled that there is a deficit of 1500 megawatts that have to be supplied in the medium and long term, and that the government, with the two coal-fired generators under construction will supply 700 megawatts, so that the private sector can guarantee the rest, which is to say 800 megawatts. "This is a poor interpretation they have made. I think of them, and how none of them objected when they received the 20 year contract which was given unilaterally, with no tender process," he said.