Santo Domingo.- Antonio Almonte, in an emotional farewell ceremony, delivered a speech to the team of the Ministry of Energy and Mines, highlighting the significant progress and achievements made under his leadership, and emphasizing the importance of teamwork for these accomplishments.
In the presence of prominent figures in the sector, Almonte stressed the dedication and excellent spirit of collaboration shown by his team. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of transparency and integrity in public service, recognizing them as essential for his administration.
In his message, he emphasized the notable development in the renewable energy sector, evidenced by the increase in installed capacity from 555 megawatts (MW) in 2020 to 1,126 MW in 2023. He also emphasized that the sector has been a pioneer, along with the tourism sector, in attracting Direct Foreign Investment for three consecutive quarters in 2023.
Almonte reported on the progress of numerous photovoltaic projects, which total over 1,300 MW in construction, and on the completion of over 80 rural electrification projects, which have allowed for the provision of electricity to communities that were previously isolated, marking a before and after in the country’s energy and social development.
“We have acted with absolute transparency. During my four-year tenure, I committed to preserving the integrity of the electrical and mining sector, proving that one can be an effective and ethical public servant,” said Almonte, who has recently been appointed as consul general in Boston, United States.
In the context of institutional reforms aimed at improving the electrical system, Almonte highlighted the dissolution of the CDEEE, the founding of the Empresa Generadora Punta Catalina, and the restructuring of the Unidad de Electrificación Rural y Suburbana (UERS), which is now integrated into the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) as a special dependency.
“I thank each of you for your support on this journey, for acting with integrity, and for always putting the country’s interests first,” concluded Almonte.
His farewell ceremony was attended by Miguel Díaz and Fausto Pérez, vice ministers of Mines and of Energy Security and Infrastructure, respectively. Also in attendance were Andrés Astacio, Superintendent of Electricity; Edward Veras, executive director of the National Energy Commission; and Martín Robles Morillo, director of the Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica Dominicana (ETED), among other officials in the energy sector.
credits of the images of this post: Deultimominuto.net
