- The expansion was driven by increased gold and silver extraction
The Minister of Energy and Mines, Joel Santos, highlighted the 7.7% growth recorded by the mining industry during the first quarter of 2026, making it the most dynamic sector within the Dominican economy in that period.
Santos explained that this performance occurs in a context where the national economy’s cumulative growth was 4.1%, according to preliminary figures from the Dominican Central Bank’s Monthly Economic Activity Indicator (IMAE), which shows mining’s decisive contribution to economic dynamism.
He emphasized how this growth was driven by higher volumes of gold, silver and construction materials extraction, consolidating the sector as one of the country’s export pillars.
He recalled that in 2025 mining exports exceeded 2,500 million dollars, gold being the main product, while the sector’s fiscal contributions amounted to 45,000 million pesos, strengthening public finances.
He also stressed that mining upholds competitive wage levels, generates relevant production chains and has a countercyclical nature that allows it to sustain its contribution even in complex international contexts, providing stability to the national economy.
He reiterated that, in 2025, the sector accounted for about 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and about 7% of the gross industrial product, in addition to consolidating itself as one of the main recipients of foreign direct investment, with 420.6 million dollars in the second quarter.
Energy growth
In terms of energy, Santos said that the sector grew 3.4% in the January-March 2026 period, in line with increased demand. This performance is based on the gradual structural transformation of the electricity system, which has made it possible to increase installed capacity and diversify the energy matrix.
He went on to highlight that, between 2020 and 2025, generation capacity went from 4,921 megawatts to more than 7,100, with a growing share of renewable energies, accounting for more than 50% of the new capacity incorporated in recent years.
The minister also highlighted the development of strategic projects such as the Manzanillo Power Land energy complex, set to become one of the main natural gas generation nodes in the country, along with the incorporation of battery storage systems (BESS), which will strengthen the stability and resilience of the national electricity system.
Santos reaffirmed that both mining and energy continue to consolidate as key axes of economic growth, investment attraction and energy security in the Dominican Republic.
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