As part of the Rural Electrification and Women's Empowerment (ERAF) project, in the North-East of Haiti, the municipalities : Vallières (https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-33567-icihaiti-valliere-jovenel-moise-inaugurates-the-valliere-micro-solar-power-plant.html already in operation), Capotille and Mont-Organisé, formerly deprived of electricity, will each benefit from a mini-grid and a hybrid electric micro-plant funded by the Government of Japan to the tune of $5.5 million executed jointly by the Ministry of Public Works and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

About 30 kilometers of distribution power lines have already been built and 3 power plants totaling 700 kW of solar photovoltaic energy, with a storage capacity of 1,700 kWh in total, will be coupled with diesel groups of 900 kW in total.

These micro-power plants are built by companies recruited through calls for tenders. This infrastructure will connect and supply around 2,000 households which, for the first time in their existence, will have access to electrical energy, including clean energy from a reliable distribution network.

The ERAF project is one of the largest rural electrification projects in Haiti. Aligned with one of the priorities of the Haitian Government. This project aims in particular to strengthen and extend existing electricity networks. This will make it possible to restore the Electricity of Haiti (ED'H) and to put in concession the public service of production, transport and distribution and the marketing in certain regional electricity grids and secondly the development of mini grids across the country.

In this context, the MTPTC, through its Energy Unit and the National Energy Sector Regulatory Authority (ANARSE), is implementing several projects for the construction of decentralized "off-grid" electrical microsystems in photovoltaic solar energy base to provide the electricity necessary for the needs of households, public and private institutions including hospitals, schools and small and medium-sized enterprises.

According to the Government's wishes, the electric micro-grids built under the ERAF project will be managed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the involvement of the host municipal administration, in order to ensure their sustainability. A transparent operator recruitment process will be carried out through public tenders. The operator should use local resources while promoting the empowerment of women in the areas of maintenance, extension and marketing. A prepayment system via smart meters will be set up for customers.

HL/ HaitiLibre