Natural gas as a potential source for energetic sustainable development in the Dominican Republic: A review

Abstract

The Dominican Republic energy matrix is mostly dependent on international markets, with void natural production of oil, natural gas, and mineral coal. This fact could completely be transformed if new studies’ outcomes confirm commercial quantities existence of them. The average estimated useful life for fossil fuel power plants is approximately five decades. Currently, half of the installed plants are reaching their end and no structured plans exist to replace their production capacity in the long term. Now is the perfect moment for the nation to shift its energy production towards more sustainable sources. As a result of the investments that include the Oriental Gas Pipeline and the existing central conversion to this fuel, natural gas achieved growth in 2020. At the same time, the sector continues to make investments that are reflected in an outstanding improvement in the production of electricity from renewable sources. Along with natural gas, renewable sources make up 56% of the generator matrix and predicted a domain of 61% for the past year 2021, contributing to a more economical solution that also promotes the reduction of the carbon footprint within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the seventh and thirteenth goals that stand for affordable and clean energy, and climate action, respectively.