During his Accountability speech Before the National Assembly, President Luis Abinader acknowledged yesterday that the electrical system has been a challenge for all governments, including the current one, and that the electrical failures that have occurred in the system are unacceptable.
He assured that it is a situation that worries and occupies him, which is why they are making important investments in the transmission system both in its extension and in its security. “We have hired specialized international companies that are advising us to increase the security and stability of an increasingly diverse and complex system,” he said.
He stated that this year 2025, the 345 kV Montecristi–Santiago transmission line will come into operation, a strategic infrastructure that integrates Manzanillo generation into the national system and strengthens the Northern region. Likewise, he said that the Cruce Ocoa–Ocoa line and the definitive connection of Pedernales to the national electrical system were modernized, reducing historical vulnerabilities and enabling new investments in the border area. In terms of generation, he explained that in 2025, 1,138 megawatts will be incorporated into the National Interconnected Electrical System through 16 strategic projects, with a private investment of more than USD1.5 billion. 58% of that new capacity, 697 megawatts, came from renewable energy, primarily solar and wind, while 438 megawatts were from efficient thermal generation, largely powered by natural gas. The president detailed that the installed capacity went from 4,921 megawatts in 2020 to 7,120 megawatts in 2025, which represents a growth of close to 45%. Solar and wind capacity quadrupled, exceeding 2,000 megawatts and increasing their share from 11% to 29% of the total installed.
He announced that at the end of March the Energía 2000 plant will come into operation with 290 MW in simple cycle, which will reach 414 MW in combined cycle by the summer. In addition, he reported that San Felipe I will provide 460 MW in May 2027, Manzanillo I, 426 MW in December 2027, and Manzanillo II will begin operations in the summer of 2028.
Infrastructure works
In his speech that began at 10:30 in the morning and concluded at 1:12 in the afternoon, the president cited a series of works spread throughout the national territory in terms of infrastructure. “During these years, the Dominican Republic has carried out the greatest decentralization in public works in its recent history, not concentrated in a few points, but extended to the entire national territory, from large cities to the most remote communities. In 2025 alone, the Ministry of Public Works executed RD$47,290 million pesos. This is the highest level of investment in the last twelve years, and 69 works were completed with an investment greater than RD$33,732 million”, he specified. In that context, he cited projects delivered in Pedernales, pointing out that today it has an aqueduct, airport, roads, tourist dock, hotels and more available.
In the case of Azua, today it has 112 works, including the ring road, the UASD university center, the Traumatological Hospital, new aqueducts and reservoirs for agricultural irrigation. In Barahona, 73 works were carried out, such as the Montegrande Dam, the Barahona-Enriquillo highway and many more built and in progress. In Bahoruco, he said that 43 new works have been built.
The largest number of executions, according to what was indicated by the president, are in the province of Santo Domingo with 385 works, Santiago with 221 works, San Cristóbal with 118 works and the National District with 100 works, among them, the Nuevo Domingo Savio Project, the remodeling of the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium, the Padre Billini hospital and very soon the Plaza de la Bandera Express Tunnel, among others.
Caribbean tourist hub.
In terms of tourism, President Luis Abinader stated that in 2025, the country received more than 11.7 million visitors, which represents an interannual growth of 4.3%, equivalent to almost 500 thousand additional visitors compared to 2024 and more than 4 million compared to 2019. “We are already the second largest destination in Latin America, only surpassed by Mexico,” the president said during his presentation of accounts.
He valued the arrival of cruise passengers, which reached almost 3 million passengers, a growth of 6% compared to 2024.
“Today we are a tourist hub of the Caribbean. We are already receiving more than one visitor for each inhabitant in our territory. Only the great tourist destinations come there,” said the president. Through the Tourism Zone Infrastructure Execution Committee (CEIZTUR), infrastructure was delivered that positively impacted 91 communities, Abinader added.
Poverty reduction
This responsible combination of economic growth, macroeconomic stability, job creation, increases in wages and purchasing power, as well as targeted social protection “has allowed us to move forward with determination in one of the inalienable objectives of this Government: reducing poverty to the lowest levels in our history.” Between 2024 and 2025, overall poverty fell from 19% to 17.3%, representing a decrease of 1.7 percentage points.
Projects on the Border
Regarding the border, Abinader said that he will begin the most important logistics project ever conceived for the border area: a network of dry ports under the free zone regime and logistics centers. “This initiative will mobilize more than 300 million dollars in totally private investment. It is a decision to strengthen sovereignty with development and competitiveness,” he said. This is the sixth Accountability of the head of State, after his re-election in 2024, under article 114 of the Constitution.
