Ribbon cutting inaugurating the various rural electrification projects (Photo: External source)
EL NUEVO DIARIO, SAN JOSÉ DE OCOA.- The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), through the General Directorate of Rural and Suburban Electrification (DERS), inaugurated two projects for the rehabilitation and extension of electrical networks in the municipality of San José de Ocoa, benefiting around 1,800 community members, with an investment of more than 35 million pesos.
The communities that received stable and quality electricity service are El Cercado, Mancebo and Arroyo Hondo, as well as the areas of Los Negros, Los Limones, La Mesa de Domingo, Sabana Abajo and Palo de Sabina, belonging to the El Pinar municipal district of the aforementioned municipality, details a press release sent this Sunday.
Deputy Minister of Energy Rafael Gómez, representing Minister Antonio Almonte, said that the Government is committed to bringing electricity to all communities that lack this service, either by extending networks, micro-hydroelectric plants or by installing solar panels in homes.
Rafael Gómez, deputy minister of energy (Photo: External source)
«Access to electricity is a right that all Dominicans have, not only those of us who live in the capital or in urban areas, but everyone; that is why President Luis Abinader instructed Minister Almonte to bring electricity to all corners of the country, and in this new four-year period we will work to achieve this,» said engineer Gómez after highlighting that these electrical projects will benefit 374 families in the municipality of San José de Ocoa, and will increase security by having public lighting.
The Vice Minister estimated that 2.3% of the Dominican population lacks electricity, mainly in border and mountainous areas, where the networks of the Electricity Distribution Companies do not reach, and that the mission of the Ministry, through the DERS, a dependency of the Vice Ministry of Energy, is to do what is technically and humanly necessary to electrify all areas of the country.
Likewise, Feliz Sánchez, mayor of San José de Ocoa, thanked President Abinader and Minister Almonte for fulfilling the dream that these localities had had for years, and that now those benefiting from electricity will be able to carry out their domestic and commercial activities.
Inaugural ceremony for rural electrification in San José de Ocoa (Photo: External source)
Patria Nidia Santana, who spoke on behalf of the residents, said that they had been lighting up with lamps, candles and water for more than 10 years, which motivated many community members to move to the town of San José de Ocoa, but that with the inauguration of the electrical projects they will return to their places, since they will be on equal terms with those in urban areas.
Project details
The inauguration of the project for the rehabilitation and extension of electrical networks in the communities of El Cercado, Mancebo and Arroyo Hondo, in the municipal district of El Pinar, in the municipality of San José de Ocoa, had an economic investment of RD$18,195,714.38, to benefit 207 families and a population of 1,035 inhabitants.
They have an extension of 8,500 MTS of medium voltage and low voltage lines, 132 poles, 25 200-watt LED lamps, 148 electrical connections for homes and an installed power of 357.5 KVA.
The extension of electrical networks was also inaugurated in the following areas: Los Negros, Los Limones, La Mesa de Domingo, Sabana Abajo and Palo De Sabina, belonging to the municipal district of El Pinar, of the aforementioned municipality, for an amount of RD$17,279,988.26, to benefit 167 families and a population of 835 inhabitants.
Expansion of electrical networks in the town of San José de Ocoa (Photo: External source)
This project has an extension of 8,500 meters of medium and low voltage lines, 113 poles, 49 200-watt LED lamps, 167 electrical connections for homes and an installed capacity of 215 KVA.
In total, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, with DERS as the executive arm, made an investment of RD$35,475,702.64, benefiting more than 1,870 inhabitants of the aforementioned communities.
The blessing of the projects fell on the priest Antonio Mateo, who pointed out that the aforementioned communities lived immersed in darkness, but that, thanks to the vocation of service of the local and government authorities towards those most in need, they will have the electric light that will lead them towards the path of progress.
Others who were present at the event were Francisco Cornelio, director of DERS; Altagracia Encarnación Gerónimo and Josefa Mejía, deputies of San José de Ocoa; Dodger Arias, representing the governor of the province, Josefa Olivo, as well as municipal authorities.
