Spanish
Santo Domingo. - The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) signed an agreement with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (Edenorte) for the execution of the electrification project called "La Cruz de Cabrera", which will be developed in the community of the same name, in the municipality of Restauración, Dajabón province, and which will benefit about 100 homes and 12 establishments.
The signing was led by Minister Joel Santos and the general manager of Edenorte, Gustavo Afolfo Martínez. With the agreement, the MEM committed to providing technical and financial support to the distribution company, which agreed to execute the initiative within a period not exceeding 90 calendar days, from the date of the disbursement of the first payment.
Regarding the project, whose total cost is RD$8,897,905.34, Santos recalled that this is part of the work carried out by the Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mines, to continue strengthening the rural electrification program, which seeks to benefit more than 3,000 families annually, especially in areas where there is no connection and with the support of all the EDEs.
"This definitely marks a firm step in the efficient use of State resources, to continue minimizing the possibility that Dominican families do not have access to electrical energy, vital for growth and development; because the policy of President Luis Abinader, from an economic point of view, is that the benefit of development reaches all Dominicans," Santos emphasized.
Meanwhile, Martínez announced that the electrification work would be completed by the end of this year 2025, as long as weather conditions permit. Likewise, he thanked the MEM for the financial and technical support to make the work viable.
"We hope it will be the first of many agreements, so that we can continue to bring solutions to families in need. We also hope that, hand in hand with the Ministry of Energy and Mines, we can continue with this dynamic to contribute to the country," said the general manager of Edenorte.
Regarding the scope of the project for the residents of La Cuz de Cabrera, the properties that will benefit are 99 homes, (between contractable and non-contractable), eight contractable businesses, a church, two schools, a polyclinic and a military checkpoint.
The agreement contemplates a payment agreement in two installments: 50% at the beginning of the project, after the signing between the parties and after the corresponding invoice has been presented; and the other 50% upon delivery of the technical completion report and conformity of the MEM.
In that sense, the possibility of budget adjustment of up to 15% on the total amount is established, in case of contingencies or justified variations in the final report of works, with the prior approval of the Ministry of Energy and Mines.
The electrification initiative in La Cruz de Cabrera was motivated by Senator Manuel María Rodríguez of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), and Representative Tony Bengoa, who thanked Minister Santos and General Manager Martínez for their interest in covering that need in said community, "which was excited with the announcement of electrification in 2019, work began, but had been abandoned."
"How good that we found in Minister Joel Santos a receptive man, committed to the development of the people. Therefore, on behalf of our community, we are grateful for the effort so that electricity reaches those homes and they can have a dignified life," said Bengoa.
During the signing of the agreement, the Vice Minister of Energy, Alfonso Rodríguez, and the Director of Rural and Suburban Electrification, Príamo Félix, also participated.
