Abinader in France, monorail boost, energy tensions rise

International cooperation: France backs Santo Domingo monorail

French President Emmanuel Macron and Dominican President Luis Abinader confirmed, during their third official meeting, France’s role as a key partner in infrastructure and urban transport development.

Paris reaffirmed its support for the Santo Domingo Monorail project, a 12-kilometer line set to connect the National District to Santo Domingo Este as part of the capital’s broader mobility plan.

The project will be financed by the French Treasury and the French Development Agency.

Beyond infrastructure, bilateral cooperation also covers regional security, the fight against drug trafficking, and environmental challenges such as sargassum management in the Caribbean.

Both leaders also discussed the situation in Haiti, calling for efforts toward stabilization and democratic transition, as well as ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Energy: scheduled power cuts to modernize the grid

At the same time, Edesur Dominicana announced scheduled electricity outages across several areas of Greater Santo Domingo.

The interruptions are intended to facilitate modernization work and the interconnection of the Arroyo Hondo and Alfa substations.

In Arroyo Hondo, upgrades including new distribution cells and increased capacity to 56 MVA will lead to outages from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in neighborhoods such as Viejo Arroyo Hondo, Los Jardines, and Los Pinos.

Additional outages are planned as part of the Alfa substation integration, with interruptions scheduled Wednesday (9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.) and Friday (9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.) in areas including Los Alcarrizos, Villa Peravia, and San Miguel de Manoguayabo.

The company says the work is aimed at improving service reliability amid growing electricity demand.

Energy policy: criticism over oil crisis response

Meanwhile, the Fuerza Nacional Progresista (FNP) has criticized the government’s handling of the energy crisis linked to the Middle East conflict.

Its president, Pelegrín Castillo, described the response as reactive and insufficient, calling for a more structured national strategy.

Proposals include:

• exploring hydrocarbons in Bahía de Ocoa and San Pedro de Macorís,
• strengthening fuel reserves,
• promoting bioethanol and biodiesel,
• developing agricultural and marine programs to reduce external dependence.

Since March 13, 2026, authorities have announced two fuel price increases affecting gasoline and diesel, driven by global market volatility.

The government has injected more than RD$1.189 billion in subsidies to cushion the impact on consumers.

The FNP is urging the adoption of a national energy plan to strengthen the Dominican Republic’s resilience to international crises.

Soraya Ades.