New government vows to transform the electricity sector

Santo Domingo – “To accelerate average annual GDP growth to 6%, which is the rate needed for it to double in 12 years, requires a set of important transformations that we are determined to make. One of them is the electricity sector, which we must make more efficient, reliable, and competitive,” said President Luis Abinader today.

During his speech before the National Assembly, the president pointed out that essential transformations have been made in generation, transmission, and distribution, significant advances have been made in electricity regulations, and the construction of 2,000 new megawatts of thermal generation has been awarded and started.

Of these, he added, 378 megawatts are in total production.

Also, 1,504 MW of renewable generation have been contracted, of which 630 MW are contributed to the system. For the first time in the country, the system projects a slack or surplus in generation of more than 15% by the end of 2027.

He indicated that the Achilles’ heel of the Dominican electricity system continues to be the distributors.

However, he assured that a profound transformation is underway that will reduce the large losses due to the energy served and not collected.

“A profound transformation is underway that will reduce the large losses due to the energy served and not collected,” he said.

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Reform of our Social Security System.

It has been 23 years since our country adopted this important social protection system, taking a courageous step in the right direction.

Before that, less than 15% of Dominicans benefited from some pension, and less than 20% enjoyed health and occupational risk insurance. Today, the Dominican population is practically protected by family health insurance, and the entire population working in the formal sector has measurable pension rights.

However, that brave step taken two decades ago has waited for successive governments to improve it based on experience.

After constant dialogue, our government will present in 2024 the proposal for reforming the social security system, which will strengthen it and provide certainty, guarantee, and quality of care and benefits to Dominicans.

In terms of health, we propose expanding care coverage to cover more ailments, reducing or eliminating the population’s out-of-pocket expenses, and providing health insurance coverage to pensioners who need it most.

Regarding pensions, we are committed to a reform that strengthens, improves, and gives peace of mind to our population so that they have a universal guarantee of decent pensions.