Energy - Haiti Observer Blog

The Péligre Hydroelectric Plant, located in Central Department, supplies Haiti with much of the island's electricity needs. But in the past few decades it has deteriorated, neglected by Électricité d'Haiti, the national provider of energy.

Haitian President Martelly has made improving the energy infrastructure a primary focus of his 5 "E" initiative. Germany has responded to Martelly's call for a reliable energy system, by funding the restoration of the PHP. The goal is to provide Haiti with electricity service 24 hours a day in the not- too-distant future.

In an agreement with Germany, Minister of Economy and Finance, Wilson Laleau, along with German Ambassador, Klaus Shick, served as signatories to a memorandum of understanding for the sum of ten million Euros to restore the PHP. The PHP serves the Péligre Hydroelectric Dam (PHD), situated on the Artibonite River. It was constructed under the Artibonite Valley Agricultural Project during the 1930s, producing the Lake Péligre reservoir. Problems with the PHD have developed over past decades with large amounts of silt deposits increasing at an alarming rate. As a result, the reservoir's energy-producing capacity has declined. The cause of the alluvial buildup is deforestation of the island. Only 4%-6% of tree cover remains, when once the entire country was blanketed with forests.

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In an effort to turn around the ailing and fragile electricity system in Haiti, Prime Minister Lamothe met with U.S. officials to discuss how to give the Haitian population what it has long needed, a dependable and widely-available electricity system. Also present during the discussion was Cheryl Mills, a U.S. State Department representative, and Pamela White, the U.S. Ambassador to Haiti.

The two main problems, which beset Electricity of Haiti's (EdH) system are a diminished production capability and mismanagement of the system, which has led to significant losses in revenues. The government of Haiti (GOH) wants to form a partnership with the private sector to increase the production and availability of electricity. The World Bank (WB) and Inter-American Investment Bank (IAIB) are willing to partner with the GOH to achieve a well-managed and -operated power system for the Haitian people.

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Laurent Lamothe, Haiti's Prime Minister, flew to Nicaragua for the Eighth Petrocaribe Summit held in Managua this year. Accompanied by President of Foreign Affairs, Wenceslas Lambert, and Marie Auguste, Deputy Minister for Human Rights and Fight against Extreme Poverty, they came to negotiate with Venezuela on forming an economic zone.

Eighteen countries constitute the Petrocaribe, a consortium of South Region nations. This year's summit was held on June 28th and 29th. President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela chaired the discussion panel and addressed the proposal of government of Haiti (GOH) for a trade program between the two countries. With the creation of an economic zone, it will be possible to increase Haiti's oil usage from 14,000-20,000 barrels per diem to a more beneficial quota.

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The Haiti PetroCaribe oil deal was signed just moments following the inauguration of René Préval; one mile away, in the Port-au-Prince bay, was the first shipment of diesel and unleaded fuel from Venezuela. Such decisive movements showed plainly that, while allaying US fears of a Haiti alliance with Venezuela, President Préval had already intended to join the Caribbean oil alliance.

The benefits were immediate, though it would take a few more years before regular deliveries of oil would be possible and construction on the promised oil refinery, an additional gift in the deal, would be complete. But Haiti's new fortune, while it came cheaply, was not without considerable price. The estimated $100 million US that the GOH would save from the delayed payment plan (with 60% up front and the remainder payable over 25 years at 1% interest) was paid for by the anger of the US Government and the US oil companies Chevron and ExxonMobil. Not only was PetroCaribe the project of Ugo Chavez, but it would mean significant losses to US investors.

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Summer 2013 could perhaps have some of the highest temperatures ever recorded. For most, this means a higher energy bill.

Conserving on your energy bill will end up saving you big, especially leading up to 2013's summer scorcher.

With A/C:
• Ensure your unit fits snugly in its window and there are no openings for precious cool air to escape. Cool rooms only when they are occupied (same goes for using the lights and appliances) and close off unused sections by shutting doors. This heat boundary can save you up to 20% on your bill. Also, keep your filters clean and service your unit annually.
• Block out the sun by closing curtains or shades. During the hottest parts of the day, the sun's penetrating rays kick a/c units into overdrive. Stave off this effect by blocking some of the light. Investing in trees that will grow to provide shade at easterly and westerly points is a good, long-term idea.
•
Without A/C:
• Unplug appliances that aren't being used. That red light on your TV, radio, DVD player or cell phone charger (which uses the same amount of energy in use or dormant) sucks power even when you're not looking! Keeping your plugs on one unit means it's easy to unplug whole sections not being used at once.
• Taking cold showers is not just practical in the heat, it is energy efficient too.
• Give your oven a break; they have a tendency to heat up the whole house, which in turn inspires energy usage for cooling down.
• Use energy saving bulbs.
Finally, go out and enjoy the summer at the beach or somewhere cool. Your electricity bill will miss you, but... what to do?

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The public utility company in Haiti, Electricite d'Haiti (EDH) is largely owned by the Haitian government. It is also a symbol of Government inefficiency in providing needed services for its people.

In Haiti, only 12.5% of the population has access to electricity, officially. This however does not explain the real story. Irregular connection or to put it more direct, "stolen Electricity" accounts for more than 25% of the public consumption of electricity in the country.

Electricite d'Haïti (EDH) estimates that about 35% of distributed power is not being paid for by the public. Many residents in poor neighborhoods who can't afford the high cost charged by the company resort to stealing electricity. That is possible because the government is unable to enforce the laws, preventing people from stealing electricity.

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Plans for a substantial investment by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), geared towards creating power solutions for Haiti and the Dominican Republic, were recently announced. The World Bank Group member, in tandem with their African, Latin American and Caribbean Fund (IFC ALAC) will help InterEnergy Holdings (IEH), a leading private investor in the propagation of power in Haiti's neighbor country, with interests in the power sector of the region, to create energy that is more efficacious in its productivity while leaving a smaller carbon footprint.

The $100 million endowment is an equity investment towards developing cleaner energy sources within the Caribbean, with plans of expansion into Latin American territories. The Dominican Republic has already made plans to cut down their emissions by 25% in time for 2030, and, already a proponent of the 'clean bill', Haiti's per capita carbon emissions is less than 185 other countries, at less than 0.1%.

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Haiti and the Dominican Republic have teamed up to improve both of the countries' power sectors. Haiti Energy Security Minister Rene Jean-Jumeau and Dominican Republic National Energy Commission Director Enrique Ramirez recently signed an agreement linking the two countries' power grid. Under the agreement, both parties will create a plan on how to boost the production of energy and lower the price of electricity to benefit the public.

The agreement is expected to help both Haiti and Dominican Republic to ensure energy security and deal with problems that may arise. If one faces a challenge in its energy security, the other would be there to help out. However, there are no specific details yet. Jumeau said an actual agreement will be made based on the countries' technical capabilities, access to funds and their social and commercial relations. The current agreement only touches on bilateral projects and relations with international organizations.

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The MOH community in Haiti will be provided with solar street lights and twenty fours electricity within six months time, as promised by Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe. At Port-au-Prince, he promised that electricity distribution would be made for all, twenty four hours of the day.

As this really possible?

Strengthening The Electrical Sector

To achieve this, the energy sector, which has been one of the major concerns for the Haitian population, since ages, would be strengthened. The Prime Minister of Haiti had stated that the EDH or the Electricity of Haiti would supply eighteen hours of electricity and this promise was kept.

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A lighting and energy company of Dutch origin has promised to supply Haitians living in darkness with 10,000 lamps in form of a donation.

After the famous 2010 earthquake most Haitians are still living in darkness or using expensive and toxic kerosene fuel for lighting and energy.

The announcement comes as a relief to the needy citizens of Haiti who will now have access to the Waka Waka solar lamps from Off Grid Solutions. The donation will be done in parallel with the company's marketing campaign of the new lamp model. The new model consists of a solar lamp and a smart phone charger. The new Waka Waka lamps are essential for backpackers and people travelling.

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