Santo Domingo.–The Dominican government is reneging on an agreement to pay private generators around US$200 million owed for energy, as agreed with the World Bank (WB).

A reliable source in the industry revealed today that despite the pledge by State-owned power companies (CDEEE) director Celso Marranzini that the payment would materialize by yearend, Treasure minister Vicente Bengoa is blocking the disbursement.

“This situation is occurring despite the fact that we are generating at full capacity and preventing the blackouts during the holidays,” the source added.

In a related development the State-owned hydreoelectrics (EGEHID) today listed the companies which owe for their turbine power: Distribuidora de Electricidad del Este (EDEESTE), RD$774,010,932; Distribuidora de Electricidad del Norte (EDENORTE), RD$1,151.9 million; Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur (EDESUR), RD$249.7 million; and Corporacion Dominicana de Empresas Electricas Estatales (CDEEE), RD$1,551.9 million, among others.

Squashed project resurfaces

In another unexpected development, EGEHID listed among its 2010 goals the construction of the ambitious hydroelectric project Manabao-Bejucal-Tavera, which when inicially announced during the Hipolito Mejia presidency (2000 – 2004) caused the entire Jarabacoa town to stage a strike for two days to oppose it.

The project would have diverted the North Yaque river away from Jarabacoa.