Haiti Power Firm shuts down main hydroelectric plant after protest

Electricite d'Haiti, the state-owned electricity company in Haiti, said that the output of Peligre hydroelectric plant was zero on Tuesday after protests about the distribution of the country's ailing power supplies.

EDH reported that output at Peligre had been reduced since Monday after protesters stormed the facility demanding other areas to be supplied before Port-au-Prince. Some residents in Port-au-Prince are using solar batteries and diesel-powered generators.

Both options are too expensive for the poorest of residents in the capital.

Peligre's 54 megawatts (MW) is nearly the entire 60 MW hydroelectric power generated by EDH, Haiti's second largest source of energy after fossil fuels.

According to World Bank data, only 49% of the population in the Caribbean nation has access to electricity grid.

EDH reported that two transformers were irreversibly damaged and it was unable bring in any technical assistance because the Ouest department where Port-au-Prince lies is virtually cut off from rest of country.

Haiti is currently battling a humanitarian crisis. Violent and powerful armed groups have taken over large parts of the capital, as well as surrounding areas. This has cut off transportation and key supplies such as food and medicine.

Nearly 580,000 have been internally displace and nearly 5 million suffer from severe hunger.

(source: Reuters)