Dominican Republic set to issue 1,000MW gas call

Dominican Republic power regulator SIE has approved the launch of an international public tender to supply up to 1,000MW from new combined cycle natural gas-fired projects.

State power holding company CDEEE and distributors Edenorte, Edesur and EdeEste are now authorized to publish bidding rules for the call which will be divided into one block for 700MW and another for 300MW, according to a SIE resolution.

Grid operator OC’s latest long-term outlook forecasts that 1,500MW of new gas-fired generation will come online this decade.

Also Read Gas push gaining traction in the Dominican Republic and CDEEE will contract plants that convert to natural gas

Recent developments include the startup of a gas pipeline to supply plants which currently operate on liquid fuel and the signing an agreement to convert the Quisqueya 2 plant to gas.

In addition, the US Trade and Development Agency is supporting plans by the energy and mines ministry to study the potential development of an LNG terminal and associated power plant.

OC data shows that gas-fired generation accounted for nearly 22% of electricity production on February 10.

RENEWABLES

On the renewable energy front, the national energy commission (CNE) met with state power transmission company Eted and clean energy developers to discuss the potential expansion of the grid to accommodate additional dispatch.

“From the development plan that has been presented in Pedernales, we are seeing if the southwestern part needs more electrical transmission infrastructure, important to be able to evacuate the amount of energy required throughout the area," CNE executive director Ángel Canó said in a statement.