ARTICLE - ELECTRICITY - 200,000 HOUSES

AMBITIOUS ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAM OF 200,000 HOUSES IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, presented yesterday, Monday, January 23, during a press conference at the Hotel Le Plaza, the program "Ban m limyè, ban m lavi" which aims to electrify in the long term, all communes and communal section of the country.

Initially, in less than two years, the Government aims to enable the electrification of 200,000 homes. The Grand Anse and the Northwest will be the first departments to be targeted; an initiative supported by the Senators Northwest and of the Grande-Anse, Maxime Roumer and Lucas Saint-vil.

"...I must tell you that the power company of Haiti (EDH) which has 40 years of existence, has 200,000 subscribers. We have a program to provide electricity to 200,000 homes over 2 years. It is a very ambitious project. In the long term, we want to provide electricity throughout the country, to help create jobs, help people create wealth through businesses, help to strengthen safety and allow them to enter definitely onto the path of development [...]" said President Martelly.

Through this program, fast and sustainable [estimated at $45 million], to be implemented by the Ministry of Public Works, Transport, Energy and Communications, in partnership with private sector companies, the opportunity is available to households in rural areas for lighting using solar energy [the solar kits each cost between 250 and 350 U.S. dollars] through a $30 million loan. This credit approach, will be developed with banks, credit unions and all institutions that grant credit in rural areas.

Several representatives of companies producing electric power and institutions working in the field of credit (SOGESOL, BPH, SOFIDHES, ANACAPH, E Power, T Energy, Eco Energy Plus Energy Group, etc...), present at the launch, applauded the approach of the Martelly/Conille administration and expressed their willingness to support the Haitian government in the success of this extensive partnership program.

The whole country should be electrified, according to the desires of President Martelly. To this end, $15 million in credit will be granted to local governments to light 375 km of streets in 3 years, repayable over 7 years at a maximum rate of 7% per annum. In the neighborhoods, electricity will be restored with the repair of streetlights. To begin with, 10 neighborhoods of 400 households each, will be served with a budget of $300,000 dollars from the Treasury. To encourage investment and facilitate the smooth operation of businesses, EDH will make available, in less than two months, 15MW of reliable electricity in some industrial areas.