Spanish
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, highlighted this Wednesday that the Government continues to promote a series of strategic projects that will contribute 612 megawatts (MW) to the National Interconnected Electrical System (SENI) in the next five months, with the aim of responding to the growing energy needs of the country, aggravated by the extreme temperatures that have increased the electrical demand.
He highlighted that in 2020 the peak demand was 2,750 MW and that to date it reaches 4,000 megawatts, an indicator that the country has experienced sustained growth in its electricity consumption, driven both by economic dynamism and by population growth and extreme climatic conditions that require greater use of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment.
This behavior, he said, also reflects the need to continue expanding generation, transmission, and storage capacity, to guarantee the energy security of the Dominican Republic.
New plants and projects on the way
Santos detailed that in October, 68 MW from the SIBA cycle closure in Boca Chica and 130 MW from the Energas 4 plant in San Pedro de Macorís will be integrated. To this will be added the Energía 2000 power plant in Manzanillo, which will begin operations in the next five months, with 414 MW. Together, these initiatives represent an additional 612 MW, which will reinforce national energy security.
The minister also reported that around 500 MW of renewable energy will be integrated in 2025, as part of efforts to diversify the matrix. In that order, he highlighted that the Unified Council of Distribution Companies (CUED) is developing the first tender for the purchase of energy storage batteries, which will be implemented in early 2027.
"The storage system will not only help meet demand during peak seasons, but will also stabilize the system, consolidating the transition towards a more sustainable energy model," he pointed out.
Projections towards 2028
Looking ahead to 2028, Santos explained that the country will double the generation of renewable energies and, along with storage, more than 30 new projects will be developed. In parallel, a 54% increase is expected in the installed capacity of thermal energy, with the commissioning of more than 2,100 MW in thermal plants under development.
The official recalled the recent inauguration of the 345-kilovolt transmission line with 128 kilometers of recorrido, from Montecristi to Santiago, cataloged as the most trascendental electrical work to date.
"This line has two objectives: to integrate into the SENI all the energy that the Manzanillo projects will produce and to connect the new renewable generation in the northern region. But progress is also being made on another vital 345 kV line from 15 Azua to Punta Catalina, which will allow us to take advantage of the renewable potential of the south of the country," explained Santos.
The minister also pointed out that the Government plans an investment of around US$450 million in transmission in the coming years, while working on the repowering of lines, strengthening distribution networks, reducing electricity fraud and citizen awareness campaigns.
