INTERVIEW WITH DARICK JONIS

INTERVIEW WITH DARICK JONIS

ON CURACAO'S BLACKOUT

Reading Time: 2 min.

By JJosephaNews

Twitter @JJosephaNews

Willemstad, Curacao.  JJosephaNews had the unique opportunity to  interview Curacao's Utility  Water and Power company "Aqualectra", Chief Executive Officer Mr. Darick Jonis. In the interview, Jonis explained the current Curacao energy status as of February 2020.

BACKGROUND 

Mr. Jonis; a product of the early 1990's local university educational system (University of Netherlands Antilles - UNA) and foreign university education from Florida-USA at FIT in 1994 where he received his graduate degree in the same discipline as his undergraduate in Electrical Engineering.

After completing his masters; Mr. Jonis; returned to Curacao and found employment at the United Telecommunication Service (UTS); which was recently sold by the government for 339 million guilders; but left to work for Aqualectra.

CLIMBING THE LADDER OF SUCCESS

Mr. Jonis has since climb the ladder of success and perseverance, moving from the area of Technical Support Business Communication to becoming the Electrical Distribution manager and has occupied the post of CEO of the company for some years now.

JONIS AS CEO

Mr. Jonis appears to be the face of Curacao's Consumer Energy Deliverance Utility Sector Service, enduring for an uninterrupted energy supply to the nation. Mr. Jonis has displayed the character of persistence coupled with intellectual ingenuity to advance himself and the service of his country in Energy deliverance Utility sector.

INTERVIEW HISTORY 

In our first conversations during the nations 2nd blackout; under Jonis watch; Mr. Jonis and I spoke briefly and he assured a response by 3 pm the same day, but he partially explained he was in a meeting as we spoke.

Later during his traveling, we once again followed-up on our interview questions in a candid conversation. The following is the interview with Mr. Darick Jonis, Aqualectra's CEO via digital transcript: 

THE INTERVIEW...

1) Approximately, what percentage of the country is dependent on oil for electricity?

Curacao as per December 2019 has supplied a total of 74.7% of the generated capacity from fossil fuel sources whilst the remaining 25.3% was generated by renewable sources of which wind is the dominant source.

Furthermore is there any plans for integrating the energy grid with renewable energy sources?

Yes! Currently the total installed capacity of fossil fuels generation is 162MW whilst renewable is 45.6 MW. Aqualectra is seeking to add 20 MW of solar generation and 22 MW of additional wind generation. In doing this, Aqualectra will have a total of 90 MW of renewable energy sources. The peak demand has been experienced to be around 135 MW.

2) What load do the wind turbine generators, carry to help relieve the country from oil-dependency?

Aqualectra has 3 production locations which all supply the island of power

3) What is the origination for the  cause of the 2020-02-11 blackout?

The exact reason is still under analysis but it is known that the trigger was voltage fluctuations in the power grid. The origin of these fluctuation can be attributed to various causes of which all are being investigated step by step.

4) When is it expected for the 2020-02-11 blackout to be resolved?

The blackout has been resolved the same day. 9 hours later than it originated, the whole island was provided with power. As addressed under the previous question, the root cause it yet to be exactly determined but the exclusion of causes is in progress. Ever since, voltage fluctuations have not been experienced.

5) Do you predict or forecast that this will happen again in the next 13 to 15 weeks?

I wish I could have an foresight and answer this question. As the power company, we do all in our power to avoid black outs ever!!

6) How long will the nation be without electricity?

This has been solved and it turned out to be 9 hours

7) What procedure and protocol do you have in place to prevent these type of blackout from reoccurring with constant frequency?

As an island utility the cause of a blackout can lie in various factors. We at Aqualectra do constant analysis, grid improvements and maintenance in order to prevent any type of interruption. Nevertheless and regretfully it should be stated that any type of interruption can not be excluded.

8) What is it that the country's: Citizens can do to help battle national blackouts?

As a consumer, it is very hard to influence a black-out

B. MP's and elected representatives can do to pass and implement laws that would help prevent national blackouts like that of 2019-11-04 and today's 2020-02-11 ?

The Curacao government has adopted an energy policy. It is up to the utility company and the technicians to address the matters and be ahead of the matters and prevent the matters at all cost.

C. What can the country's governmental and non-governmental leadership do to ensure zero national blackouts?

In an island system this is very much difficult to exclude. Nevertheless if everybody can understand the risk a we have as island and the risks with island systems, would help address the matter

©2020 JJosephaNews. All rights reserved.