Haiti's largest hydroelectric power station is down following a break-in

The state-owned power company EDH announced on Thursday that the largest hydroelectric plant in Haiti has had its output cut to zero as a result of a break-in.

EDH reported that production had been halted since Tuesday due to "acts" of invasion at the Peligre Plant, located 11 km (7 miles) away from central Mirebalais where residents have protested the lack of action by the state after armed gang attacks.

EDH described this as "a hateful act which plunges areas still receiving EDH electricity supplies into a total blackout." It called for more security, and said it intended to resume production quickly once security for its staff is restored.

Local media reported in the early part of the week that angry citizens in Mireabalais took over the power station in protest against gang control and demanded its closure.

EDH said that such actions were far from meeting the country's energy needs and further complicated the problems for the company.

Haiti's second largest source of power is hydroelectricity, which comes from Peligre.

Earlier in the week, Haiti's APPE Oil lobby warned of a "imminent danger of complete sector parlysis" because of armed gangs controlling transport throughout the country.

While some gas stations have ceased to operate, others have seen long queues outside.

Armed gangs, under the alliance "Viv Ansanm", now designated as a terrorist group by the United States, began attacking Mirebalais in Central Haiti almost two months ago. They killed residents and burned down buildings.

International security assistance has been minimal as Viv Ansanm expanded beyond the capital Port-au-Prince. At the beginning of the year, over 1 million people had been internally displaced before the attacks escalated in the central plateau. (Reporting and writing by Harold Isaac, Sarah Morland, Kylie Madry).

(source: Reuters)