DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

Punta Catalina, the largest power generator in the country, was partially shut down on Monday, 18 August 2025 after a sudden influx of sargassum seaweed clogged its water intake. Punta Catalina is located in Azua, about an hour and a half drive west from the capital city.

The Empresa de Generación Eléctrica Punta Catalina (EGEPC) reported that Unit No. 1 of the Punta Catalina Thermoelectric Power Plant went offline at 6:25am. The plant administration explained that the massive accumulation of seaweed was a result of the rough weather conditions brought by Hurricane Erin.

The sargassum caused a drop in the unit’s circulating water level, prompting the shutdown as a protective measure.

While the plant’s operational capacity has been temporarily reduced, officials clarified that the incident has not led to any energy deficit in the national electrical grid.

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