Port-au-Prince, Haiti (Agencies): Haiti’s largest hydropower plant, Peligre, has been forced to shut down after protesters stormed the facility demanding access to electricity. The shutdown has exacerbated the island nation’s ongoing energy crisis, which has been prioritizing the capital city, Port-au-Prince, over other regions, leading to widespread anger and frustration.
The state power utility, Electricite d’Haiti (EDH), condemned the protests, stating, “Such actions, far from helping meet the population’s electricity needs, make EDH’s challenges even more difficult as the equipment used to operate plants are expensive and hard to repair, maintain or replace.” EDH has called on the government to secure the plant, which has a capacity of 54 MW, accounting for nearly all of Haiti’s 60 MW in hydropower output capacity.
The energy crisis in Haiti has been compounded by a shortage of hydrocarbons, following Venezuela’s cessation of oil supplies in 2019 due to U.S. sanctions and declining oil production. The shutdown of the Peligre plant means that the already limited electricity supply will be further strained, affecting millions of Haitians.
Repairing the plant poses a significant challenge, as the capital city has been effectively cut off from the rest of the country by armed gangs. These gangs have displaced more than half a million people and left around five million facing severe hunger. The gangs have also disrupted supply routes for essential goods, including food, medicine, and fuel, making basic necessities a luxury for many Haitians.
In response to the energy crisis, some residents of Port-au-Prince have resorted to using backup generators, solar panels, and batteries. However, these alternatives are beyond the means of most Haitians, which led to the storming of the Peligre plant and its subsequent damage and shutdown.
The situation remains dire, with the state power utility emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention to restore and secure the country’s energy infrastructure.