Government will meet with the CES to resume the electricity pact

Government plans to move forward with commitments of the Electric Pact The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, explained that he plans to meet with the Economic and Social Council to outline the guidelines SANTO DOMINGO. The Minister of Energy and Mines (MEM), Joel Santos, explained that the Dominican Government, along with all institutions in the electricity sector, continues to work to report on the progress of the National Pact for the Reform of the Electricity Sector and to resume "directly" the commitments outlined in the Pact, in order to achieve the goals established by 2028, which seeks to transform and modernize the national electricity system. "To strengthen the institutions, it is fundamental to assume the commitments of the Electric Pact. We are working on reporting the progress so that from here to 2028 all those objectives are truly achieved," Santos affirmed. He emphasized the need to revise the General Electricity Law 125-01, to adapt it to an energy system that has changed radically in terms of the size of the economy, the energy matrix, and the technology to manage the system. "Managing the electrical system of 2000 is very different from that of 2025, from the point of view of energy sources and the technology used," emphasized the official in the presentation entitled: "Present and future of the energy sector in the Dominican Republic," during the Mercado Energy Summit 2025. Santos recalled that in 2000, 88% of the energy matrix of the National Interconnected Electrical System (SENI) was concentrated in petroleum derivatives, while currently these only represent 9.5%. "Today we also have 39.6% gas generation, 28.1% coal and the remaining 22.7% in renewable energies, mainly solar, with 8.4%", he highlighted at the meeting, which was attended by the president of the Unified Council of Electricity Distribution Companies (CUED), Celso Marranzini. In his speech, Santos highlighted the six strategic objectives of the Dominican electricity sector: increase in energy supply, diversification of the matrix, investment in transmission, universalization of the electricity service, energy efficiency and institutional strengthening with the Electric Pact, which seeks a more stable, efficient and lower cost service. The minister also pointed out the importance of regulating frequency, implementing storage systems, and advancing PPA (purchase agreements) tenders for renewable energies, which are underway. Regarding cybersecurity regulations, he mentioned that the system's growth entails greater exposure to risk, so it is vital to continue making progress in that area and announced the application of the "Zero Bureaucracy" Program to improve procedures, from project approval to all services to citizens. In addition, the head of Energy and Mines recalled that an energy efficiency bill has been submitted to the National Congress and is currently being evaluated by the Energy Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, for its application throughout the Government. "All these changes, plus those to come, including the issue of nuclear energy as an alternative energy source, which must begin to be considered, we need changes in our legislation that need to be adapted to the next 25 years," he pointed out. Minister Santos was accompanied by the Vice Ministers of Energy, Nuclear Energy and Hydrocarbons Alfonso Rodríguez, Gaddis Corporán and Noel Báez, respectively. In addition, the following were present for the MEM; Príamo Félix, director of Rural and Suburban Electrification; and José Santana, director of Energy Saving and Efficiency Policy.