Santo Domingo.- The power group AES Dominicana on Monday inaugurated the first Liquefied Natural Gas Distribution in Terminal Dominican Republic and Latin America, which will benefit sectors from the fossil fuel’s more competitive advantages, minimal environmental impact and high efficiency.
In his keynote speech AES Dominicana president Marco De la Rosa said the facility reflects the company’s commitment to support the first change in the country’s energetic matrix by resorting to various types of economic fuels, significantly lowering the national economy’s high dependency on petroleum. “With the distribution of natural gas in its liquid state to all economic sectors, we are leading the way in changing Dominican Republic’s energy future.”
The AES CEO said its investments in natural gas infrastructure is already more than 450 million dollars and include, in addition to the inaugurated natural gas terminal, construction of the modern energy complex AES Andres and the conversion of the AES Los Mina power plants to natural gas.
He said among the terminal’s direct benefits to Dominican Republic is the supply of 35% of the country’s energy needs, the creation of around 300 direct and indirect jobs, whereas its environmental benefits include a cleaner society for future generations, since natural gas means more than 300 tons fewer CO2 emissions annually.
“As an unprecedented element to the national energy topic we can stress that the use of this fuel means a total savings of around US$1.10 billion annually or a relative amount of 2.5% of the GDP; funds which can be used for education and health while improving the country’s strategic position by on a b having a better balance of fuel choices,” De la Rosa said.
Present in the inaugural were Industry and Commerce vice minister Washington González, Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center director Eddy Martinez, Environment vice minister Ernesto Reyna, and United States embassy representative Robert Jones.
The AES Dominicana president thanked those officials present, representing the various Government agencies, for their extraordinary support in the development of the country’s natural gas market. “To materialize the first and only Liquefied Natural Gas Distribution Terminal in Dominican Republic and the rest of Latin America has been the fruit of the sum of wills and it’s fair to is recognize the support by organizations such as Industry and Commerce, which backed the entire normative process, to motor the expansion and use of natural gas in the different sectors of Dominican society.”
De la Rosa also noted the advantages for the country’s environment and thanked the Environment Ministry for its support, its efforts and the facilities provided to obtain the permits. “The most benefited with the popularization of natural gas in the country is undoubtedly the Environment Ministry because in this manner it adds allies in the fight to lower environmental pollution.”