Santo Domingo. The minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, pondered the impact that energy security has on achieving the objectives of the Meta 2036 plan, with which it is projected to double the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the next eleven years.
He indicated that among the initiatives that the Government is developing in conjunction with the private sector, are gas projects for more than 2,179 megawatts in different parts of the country, with which it will increase the installed capacity of thermal energy in the national electrical system by 54%.
He gave as an example the semiconductor industry, data centers, and mining, segments of high added value that require a high demand for energy.
“Facing the future, energy will still be a more precious good for developing countries. Without reliable and abundant energy, there will be no growth”, he expressed.
At the panel “The future of energy in the Dominican Republic: advances and challenges towards sustainability”, Santos said that the energy sector is working to increase generation, make the necessary investments in transmission, and have adequate and modern regulation.
“The main factor for the Dominican economy to double its growth by 2036 is energy security, which by its transversality should give it the ability to integrate, more and more, segments or economic sectors of higher added value, which will generate growth”, he maintained the official.
He informed that currently there are 21 renewable energy projects in execution for 1,006 megawatts, other 22 in the process of starting construction for 1,500 megawatts, and 51 in the phase of approval of permits, with which the renewable energy offer will double by 2028, exceeding 2,500 megawatts.
He explained that in the matter of transmission, a projected investment of $450 million in the next years is planned, and for distribution, $200 million will be allocated each year, to improve the networks, installation of transformers, and improve the billing of the system.
He maintained that, together with the investments and improvements being made as part of energy efficiency and sustainability, work is being done to reduce dependence on coal in the system to take it from the 24% it currently requires to 17% by 2030.
Joel Santos shared the opening panel of “Foros Business 2025”, with the superintendent of Electricity, Andrés Astacio; the director of the National Energy Commission, Edward Veras; the general administrator of the Dominican Electricity Transmission Company, Martin Robles, and the general administrator of the Dominican Hydroelectric Generation Company, Rafael Salazar.
At the activity, which will hold forums for several months related to the government management of energy, water, and environmental sustainability, various public officials and private sector members attended.
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