A widespread blackout struck the Haitian capital this week after the Péligre hydroelectric plant — Haiti’s primary source of electricity — ceased operations due to unspecified technical failures. The outage has affected thousands of households and essential services in Port-au-Prince, highlighting longstanding weaknesses in the country’s energy infrastructure.
In response, Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé called an emergency meeting on Friday with the Minister of Public Works, Transport, and Communications, alongside the Director General of the state utility, Électricité d’État d’Haïti (EDH). The meeting focused on identifying immediate technical solutions and mobilizing field teams to assess and repair the affected systems.
“Despite the magnitude of the challenges, the authority of the State remains intact,” the Prime Minister’s Office stated. “The government is fully mobilized to ensure continuity of essential services and to manage this emergency with rigor and responsibility.”
While no timeline has been officially given for full power restoration, technicians have already been deployed to the Péligre site. Officials emphasized that all necessary measures are being taken to restore electricity to Port-au-Prince in a safe and sustainable manner.
The blackout has disrupted hospitals, schools, government buildings, and small businesses throughout the metropolitan area. Without backup generators, many health facilities have reduced their operations, while markets and local vendors have reported spoilage of perishable goods and a slowdown in activity.
Experts note that Haiti’s heavy reliance on a single hydroelectric facility places the national grid at significant risk. Péligre, built in the mid-20th century, has suffered from decades of underfunding and inadequate maintenance. Calls for diversification of Haiti’s energy sources — including investment in solar, wind, and decentralized microgrids — have intensified in recent years but have yet to be fully implemented.
“This incident underscores the urgent need for structural reforms in our energy sector,” said an energy analyst based in Port-au-Prince. “It’s not just about fixing Péligre, but about rethinking the entire system.”
Meanwhile, the government has reached out to international partners and technical agencies to explore support options for accelerating repairs and enhancing grid resilience in the future.
As recovery efforts continue, the people of Port-au-Prince remain in wait — hoping for a swift return to normalcy and long-term commitments to reliable public services.
