This is not the first time InterEnergy has invested in sustainable development: over its 20 years of collaboration with CGI, it has channeled more than $2 billion into renewable energy projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its initiatives include the construction of wind farms in the Dominican Republic, the development of the Laudato Si’ Park in Panama—the largest of its kind in Central America and the Caribbean—and the conversion of the Energas plant in the Dominican Republic to natural gas. In the last three years, it has also installed more than 270 MW of solar energy and 150 MWh of storage systems through its subsidiary CEPM, and in 2023 it achieved full electrification of Saona Island with renewable energy.
The sargassum strategy is conceived as a coordinated public-private effort. The seaweed invading Caribbean shores poses not only an ecological problem but also a direct threat to coastal tourism, as it can clog beaches, affect water quality, and degrade the visitor experience. The destinations most dependent on tourism are also the most vulnerable to massive sargassum events, which is why this investment aims to become a key instrument to protect local economies, safeguard jobs, and ensure territorial sustainability.
In the Dominican Republic, the first stronghold of this plan, the fund is expected to enable the deployment of collection, transportation, and proper disposal systems for the seaweed, as well as technologies that can prevent or reduce its arrival in sensitive areas. These actions require coordination with environmental, port, and local authorities to design timely and effective responses to recurring invasions.
But the scope of the plan goes beyond national borders: it seeks to serve as a replicable model for other affected Caribbean countries, such as Jamaica, Mexico, Belize, Puerto Rico, and several southern Caribbean islands, where sargassum has become a growing threat to beaches, coastal ecosystems, and tourism reputation. In fact, much of the effort to combat this phenomenon will need to involve regional cooperation, the exchange of best practices, and access to international financing.
By focusing its initial efforts on the Dominican Republic, InterEnergy is betting on an emblematic Caribbean tourism destination that has suffered the consequences of sargassum in recent seasons. If this plan succeeds in effectively controlling the influx, it will provide immediate relief to coastal communities and build confidence among investors and tourism operators, encouraging the recovery of business lines under threat.
Naturally, success will depend on the speed of implementation, logistical efficiency, the commitment of public and private actors, and the ability to adapt to the marine and climatic conditions of each coastal area. It will also be essential for this initiative to be framed within a robust regulatory framework and to undergo rigorous environmental and social monitoring to ensure that the benefits align with the stated goals of sustainability and resilience.
With this $50 million commitment, InterEnergy is not only sending a message of urgency in the face of sargassum but also a bet on the future of Caribbean tourism: a model that is environmentally responsible, powered by renewable energy, and socially inclusive. Time will tell whether this strategy succeeds in transforming a growing challenge into an opportunity to strengthen the Caribbean’s position as a sustainable, resilient, and competitive destination on the global tourism map.
