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The Minister of Energy and Mines of the Dominican Republic, Joel Santos, presented this Tuesday the Dominican vision on the role of energy as a driver of economic and social development during his participation in the ministerial session “Energy as a Driver of National Transformation,” held within the framework of the Suriname Energy, Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition (SEOGS 2026).
n” “nDuring the panel, Santos presented the progress achieved by the Dominican Republic in terms of expanding electricity generation, incorporating renewable energy, strengthening energy security, and modernizing the sector’s infrastructure, highlighting that the country has promoted a strategy aimed at guaranteeing a reliable, competitive, and sustainable supply to support economic growth and attract new investments.
n” “n“Energy development is an essential component for the transformation of nations. There is no sustainable economic growth without sufficient, reliable, and competitive energy. Every new industry, every investment, and every job requires a robust energy system that guarantees stability and opportunities for the population,” expressed the minister.
n” “nSantos explained that the Dominican Republic is experiencing one of the greatest periods of energy expansion in its history. He indicated that the installed capacity of the electrical system went from 4,921 megawatts in 2020 to 7,120 megawatts in 2025, while the share of renewable energy increased from 11% to 29% of the national electricity matrix, reflecting the country’s commitment to an orderly and sustainable energy transition.
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Likewise, he highlighted that during 2025 alone, 1,138 megawatts of new generation capacity were added, of which 697 megawatts correspond to renewable sources, mainly solar and wind, consolidating the Dominican Republic as one of the most dynamic energy markets in Latin America and the Caribbean.
n” “nSantos shared the stage with the Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and the Environment of Suriname, Patrick Brunings; the Minister of Natural Resources of Guyana, Vickram Bharrat; and the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries of Trinidad and Tobago, Roodal Moonilal, in a dialogue focused on energy security, resource sovereignty, regional integration, and the use of hydrocarbons to generate well-being and sustainable development.
n” “nDuring the exchange, Santos highlighted that the Dominican strategy combines the strengthening of renewable energies with new investments in efficient thermal generation, energy storage, expansion of transmission networks, and continuous improvement of the regulatory framework, with the goal of responding to the sustained growth in electricity demand and ensuring the country’s competitiveness.
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The visit of the Minister of Energy and Mines is taking place as part of the follow-up to the agreements and understandings reached during the meeting recently held between President Luis Abinader and the President of Suriname, Jennifer Simons, in which the energy sector was identified as one of the priority areas to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote initiatives of common interest.
n” “nLikewise, this mission is part of the energy integration and collaboration strategy promoted by the governments of the Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Guyana, supported by official visits, high-level dialogues, and agreements signed by the leaders of these nations, with the purpose of fostering the exchange of experiences, attracting investment, and strengthening regional energy security.
n” “nVisit to Halliburton
n” “nSimilarly, the minister visited the facilities of Halliburton, one of the leading oil and energy companies worldwide, where he learned firsthand about some of its operations, technological capabilities, and contributions to the development of the energy industry
n” “nDuring his journey through Suriname, Minister Joel Santos was accompanied by Tulio Rodríguez, Commissioner for Presidential Projects RD-Guyana-Suriname; Noel Báez, Vice Minister of Hydrocarbons; Rainiero Olivo, Vice Minister of Industry and Commerce, and Carmen Minaya, Director of the Cabinet of Energy and Mines.
n” “nThe participation of the Dominican Republic in SEOGS 2026 reaffirms the country’s commitment to regional cooperation and its interest in continuing to promote an energy agenda that combines economic growth, sustainability, innovation, and energy security, for the benefit of present and future generations.
