Thursday, in order to restructure the energy sector, the government organized at the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation, an important meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe and representatives of international donors sensitized by the issue of electric power.

The discussions focused on the management of the Electricity of Haiti (EDH) and the establishment of a public-private partnership to improve the production and distribution of electricity, as well as the collection of debts contracted by consumers.

This high-level dialogue held between the Government and Cheryl Mills, the Special Envoy of the U.S. State Department, Ms. Pamela White, Ambassador of the United States in Haiti and representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank, participates of the logic of a partnership between the EDH and foreign investors willing to provide technical assistance to the Haitian government to improve energy supply in Haiti.

Participants agreed that in its current state, the EDH is unable to meet energy demand while only 31% of Haitians have access to electricity. Its low production capacity, non-payment of bills, related to chronic management problems, hindering the smooth running of the company and causing huge losses of several million dollars annually.

This deficit supported by the public treasury, constitutes a huge loss of earnings in the state. To this end, donors have openly expressed their full commitment to support the Haitian leaders in their determination to give the country a new energy policy by adopting a better approach to ensure a more efficient management and a wider distribution of the electric.

The Haitian government, while reiterating its commitment to improve the living conditions of the population relies on the participation of all sectors of national life, in order to resolve in transparency, this crucial issue that deeply affects the Haitian society.

Also Friday, the private company E-Power confirmed that negotiations were proceeding in a meaningful way with the government so that it can return on the grid of Electricity of Haiti (EDH), and provide 30 MW. Delivery of energy interrupted for nearly 3 months because of lack of financial resources to buy fuel needed to operate the plant, due to Government debt over 12 million representing 3 months in arrears.

HL/ HaitiLibre