The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) held the “Energy Saving Fair 2023: Towards Energy Transition”, in order to promote a culture of rational and efficient use of energy resources, to promote the sustainable development of the country.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Energy and Mines, Antonio Almonte, explained that this initiative arises as a necessity in the global framework of adopting actions that contribute to combat the effects of global warming, and also by the promotion of technological innovation, such as new types of electric turbines, plants, engines, domestic appliances, which have a significant impact on the reduction of energy consumption.
The “Energy Saving Fair” is an initiative of the Vice Ministry of Energy Saving and Efficiency, which seeks solutions and technologies aimed at achieving sustainable energy savings in public institutions, homes and private companies.
The head of the MEM added that this energy saving process will represent a relief for the economy, because it will help to reduce the high cost of the Dominican bill in the purchase of oil to produce energy and that, in this sense, the Government is moving towards an energy transition, supported by two main objectives; on the one hand, stimulating the rational consumption of energy, and, on the other hand, incorporating renewables to the generation matrix.
“The irruption of all these renewable energy projects, which, by the way, is cheaper, not only has the purpose of fighting climate change, but, more urgently, the gradual and systematic decoupling of national consumption from fossil fuels, which represent a high cost to the country”, he explained.
Minister Almonte emphasized that it is not a question of the population ceasing to use energy, but rather that they do so efficiently, and that the final destination of all these efforts made by the Government is to supply the demand for electricity and generate it with the least possible negative impact, in a general sense.
“For us, backing renewables has climate and technological implications, in addition to the fact that it is cheap energy, but it is also a strategy that seeks to gradually replace dependence on fuels that we do not control, and gradually become less dependent on fossil fuels,” he said.
Likewise, the Vice-Minister of Energy Saving and Efficiency, Alfonso Rodríguez, participated in the panel Design of Efficient Energy Infrastructure, where he explained that one of the main challenges is the incorporation of energy use in the student curriculum (basic, secondary and university), thus promoting a saving culture from the school cycle.
This activity was attended by actors from the public and private electricity sector, who discussed and exchanged experiences, through panels and presentations, on the steps to achieve a more efficient energy consumption.
Recently, President Luis Abinader declared as a high national priority the implementation of an energy saving and efficiency policy in all public administration bodies under the Executive Branch. The measure was taken through Decree 158-23.
Source: presidencia.gov.do
