ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Tuesday mentioned that the Dominica Electrical energy Companies Firm (DOMLEC) is to hire a megawatt producing system from a US-based agency that, when commissioned on November 15, will finish the load shedding state of affairs on the island.
In an announcement, Skerrit mentioned that because of buying the system, whole capability is anticipated to be restored, and cargo shedding is projected to be eradicated.
”We have now been suggested by each DOMLEC and the Impartial Regulatory Fee (IRC) that the acquisition of extra mills by DOMLEC to deal with the era shortfall would end in a rise in value to shoppers.”
However Skerrit, who advised the inhabitants, “I really feel your ache, and I share your disgust,” mentioned to guard the Dominican client from this projected value hike, his administration has commenced the procurement of a brand new 5.2MW medium-speed generator for lease to DOMLEC on favorable phrases.
“This unit is projected to stay in service for 2 years within the first occasion. The projected commissioning date, as DOMLEC suggested, is April 2024. So we’re doing all we are able to whereas minimizing the impression of accelerating expenditures on the buyer,” Skerrit mentioned, including that a number of Caribbean nations are going through comparable challenges in assembly their electrical energy calls for.
He mentioned DOMLEC can’t merely exit and enter into debt, including that such obligation have to be assessed and the means and mode of reimbursement permitted by a regulatory physique.
“The one method to not cross on elevated prices to the general public is to not purchase sure varieties of medium and long-term debt. Others would say this extra technically, however I’m a layperson, and so are the overwhelming majority of individuals listening to this broadcast.
“So let’s sum all of it up by saying that the federal government has discovered a means to assist assist era and entry to the provision of electrical energy that’s wanted to match present demand with out being pressured, by legislation, to cross such will increase on to you, the buyer, whom we all know can’t bear such right now.
“You’ve suffered sufficient with these blackouts on this interval of unstable and unreliable service. So, we’re urgent forward.”
Skerrit mentioned that as the bulk shareholder of DOMLEC, the federal government is totally conscious of its duty to steer in fixing what he described as “this troublesome concern.
“We acknowledge and remorse the inconvenience to people and the enterprise neighborhood. The federal government is a sufferer of the episode as productiveness ranges would naturally have fallen, and we anticipate a unfavorable impression on revenues.
“ So we’re all on this collectively. However I wished to let you know immediately that reduction is on the best way,” Skerrit advised the nation, including that brief, medium, and long-term approaches have been recognized.
“In below two weeks, vital enhancements shall be seen. The state of affairs ought to have been overhauled and rectified in simply over a month. That is the reassurance the federal government has been given, and that is the usual to which we will maintain DOMLEC,” Skerrit added.
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