Santo Domingo.- At 5:35pm yesterday, the first unit of the Punta Catalina Power Plant came online with an initial 36.5 megawatts to the national grid (SENI), State Electric Utility (CDEEE) CEO Rubén Jiménez Bichara announced Wed.
The synchronization of the power plant at the center of the Odebrecht US$92.0 million graft case had previously been announced by president Danilo Medina in his February 27 sat of the nation address. “(The test) was carried out successfully and marked the appropriate indicators for the regular operation of this plant.”
The official said the SENI registered the plant’s output and the tests will continue with small injections of energy gradually until reaching its maximum of 337 megawatts. “The process will continue in the days to come and next week the plant will be operating with coal, which implies an increase in the national electricity supply.”