Jose Francisco Zúñiga Cotes, the CEO of the Banana Association of Magdalena and La Guajira, ASBAMA, called the Electricaribe SA ESP company because of the multiple power interruptions there have been in the municipality of Zona Bananera.
According to the members of Asbama, they have had to suspend the packaging of the fruit and the irrigation process in banana plantations due to the constant rationing of electricity in the municipality. To perform these activities, they have had to resort to the use of emergency power generation, which requires that they spend large amounts of ACPM or gas on a daily basis, which has increased their operating costs.
"We demand Electricaribe take the necessary measures, such as carrying out maintenance, or repairing or replacing the electrical infrastructure, to guarantee the provision of the service and to prevent this situation from continuing. We at Asbama are considering raising this request to the Superintendence of Public Services to ensure the effective provision of the energy service," stated Zuñiga Cotes.
The large, medium and small producers who have farms in the sectors of Sevilla, Rio Frio, Guamachito, Soplador, Palomar, Varela, La Gran Via, Santa Rosalia, Orihueca, Guacamayal, and Tucurinca have been affected by the constant electrical problems and prolonged outages that can last 6 to 10 hours a day. As a result of these problems, and to continue the cutting and packaging of the fruit, producers must incur in large expenses, which not only damages the sector but the overall productivity of the Zona Bananera municipality.
"We need to strengthen the competitive position of the municipality, but given the constant inconveniences in the electricity service, the entire local banana industry has been affected, both in its operational and productive part. That is why, as spokespersons for the banana producers of the Department of Magdalena and the community that has also been affected, we call for the necessary measures to be taken so that the municipality's electricity networks comply with the requirements of the sector and can guarantee an optimal service without interruptions, so as to avoid having more economic losses," Zúñiga Cotes stated.
More information:
ASBAMA
Tel: (5) 421 2907
Cell phone: +57 300 6643444