11 Jan 2012

HAITI / ENERGY

E-Power is one of the first private sector energy projects in Haiti – and an important step toward the country’s recovery from a devastating earthquake two years ago.The state-of-the-art power plant in Port au Prince has been steadily boosting energy to the capital since the plant’s inauguration in early 2011. WORLD BANK

Posted at: January 11, 2012 4:42 pm

Duration: 03:00

Available in: SD, HD

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STORY: HAITI / ENERGY 
TRT: 3:00
SOURCE: WORLD BANK
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: DECEMBER 2011, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

1. Various shots, ice factory workers
2. Med shot, factory owner 
3. SOUNDBITE (French) Pierre-Richard Gaetjeens, Ice Factory:
"Before E-Power we had from 12 to 15 hours of electricity a day, now I can tell you we have more than 22 hours."
4. Wide shot, E-Power plant exterior
5. Wide shot, plant exterior
6. Med shot, chairman with employee
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel-Gerard Rouzier,Chairman of the Board, E-Power:
"We actually now are supplying 15 percent of the demand of port au prince area, but because we are coming with a brand new plant, we were able to stabilize the frequency and stability of the supply."
8. Wide shot, clinic exterior
9. Med shot, patient walking in
10. Wide shot, clinic interior
11. Wide shot, clinic interior
12. SOUNDBITE (French) Janvier Smith, DASH Clinic:
"There were cases not only here but other places where people came and because there was no electricity the clinic could not operate.  Now it is better because we have electricity throughout the day, and at night."
13. Wide shot, plant exterior
14. Med shot, plant exterior
15. Wide shot, E-Power sign, exterior
16. Wide shot, control room interior
17. Various shots, control room
18. Med shot, Auguste inside plant
19. SOUNDBITE (English) Carl-Auguste Boisson, Chief Executive Officer, E-Power:
"We are keen on training, developing our local people because you know it's not just having a good plant that is producing well and is respecting the environment and community but somewhere we have to help build up the technical base of this country."
20. Wide shot, plant exterior
21. Wide shot, cement depot
22. Med shot, owner in office
23. SOUNDBITE (English) Morhanges Elizee, Depot 9:
"We knew that we would have more electricity more security in the area so it kind of encouraged me to start investing in the area, and now I am opening this cement distribution."
24. Wide shot, E-Power truck
25. Wide shot, barber shop owner
26. Med shot, Sony in shop
27. Wide shot, barber shop exterior
28. SOUNDBITE (French) Sony Sabin, Barber Shop Owner:
"I am a small businessman, and to run my barbershop I need electricity!"
29. Med shot, barber cutting hair
30. Med shot, barber cutting hair

STORYLINE:

The Penguin Ice Factory in Port-au-Prince produces up to 4000 ten-pound bags of ice cubes per day.

Electricity is the key to keeping the factory's machines running, and to keeping the more than 30 people who work here employed, says the factory owner.

SOUNDBITE (French) Pierre-Richard Gaetjeens, Ice Factory 
"Before E-Power we had from 12 to 15 hours of electricity a day, now I can tell you we have more than 22 hours."

E-Power is one of the first private sector energy projects in Haiti - and an important step toward the country's recovery from a devastating earthquake two years ago.
The state-of-the-art power plant in Port au Prince has been steadily boosting energy to the capital since the plant's inauguration in early 2011.

SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel-Gerard Rouzier,Chairman of the Board, E-Power 
"We actually now are supplying 15 percent of the demand of port au prince area, but because we are coming with a brand new plant, we were able to stabilize the frequency and stability of the supply."

This new steady supply of energy is serving local communities by powering their homes, businesses and education and health services.

SOUNDBITE (French) Janvier Smith, DASH Clinic
"There were cases not only here but other places where people came and because there was no electricity the clinic could not operate.  Now it is better because we have electricity throughout the day, and at night."

E-Power has increased energy capacity in Port au Prince by as much 35 percent.  It burns heavy fuel oil rather than diesel oil and is saving Haiti's government money that can be directed to other public services.

E-power is majority- owned by a consortium of Haitian investors and a large Korean electricity utility

The International Finance Corporation-the private sector arm of the World Bank Group- led the financing to develop the power plant which sells its electricity to Haiti's state-owned utility, EDH..

Most of E-power's 180 employees are hired locally, and receive specialized on-the - job training.

SOUNDBITE (English) Carl-Auguste Boisson, Chief Executive Officer, E-Power:
"we are keen on training, developing our local people because you know it's not just having a good plant that is producing well and is respecting the environment and community but somewhere we have to help build up the technical base of this country."

In addition to producing more energy for Port au Prince and surroundings, E-power is drawing more investors to the impoverished and neglected area it sits in.

SOUNDBITE (English) Morhanges Elizee, Depot 9:
"We knew that we would have more electricity more security in the area so it kind of encouraged me to start investing in the area, and now I am opening this cement distribution."

The increase in energy is a demonstration of progress being made in Haiti, say the country's budding entrepreneurs.

Forty-one-year-old Sony Sabin is tapping the new power to open several small businesses, including this barbershop.

SOUNDBITE (French) Sony Sabin, Barber Shop Owner
"I am a small businessman, and to run my barbershop I need electricity!"

The new power source, he says, is a true light of hope in Haiti's path toward economic development.