Energy Minister outlines Dominican Republic’s long-term energy strategy to meet rising electricity demand

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic is implementing a long-term strategy to strengthen its energy sector and prepare for rising electricity demand through the next decade, Minister of Energy and Mines Joel Santos said during the opening of Energyear Caribe 2026 in Santo Domingo.

Addressing more than 600 energy industry executives and experts, Santos stressed that investments made today in power generation, transmission, and distribution will determine the country’s ability to meet electricity needs well into the 2030s. He warned that delaying key infrastructure projects beyond 2028 could leave future administrations unable to satisfy growing demand.

The minister said the government’s roadmap focuses on expanding energy generation, modernizing transmission and distribution networks, improving regulation, advancing rural electrification, and promoting energy efficiency. He emphasized that the strategy is designed to respond to accelerating economic growth, technological change, and the global energy transition.

Santos also called for stronger coordination between the public and private sectors, arguing that closer collaboration and forward-looking regulations are essential to ensuring a reliable, resilient, and sustainable electricity system.

Energyear Caribe 2026, held at the Hotel El Embajador, brought together government officials, utility executives, and energy experts to discuss the Dominican Republic’s electricity future, including renewable energy integration, grid modernization, regulatory reforms, and long-term energy planning.