DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

AES Dominicana’s Andres power plant has temporarily ceased operations after an unprecedented buildup of sargassum seaweed choked its water intake system. The 319-megawatt natural gas facility, a key contributor to the nation’s grid, went offline Saturday, 20 September 2025 as crews scrambled to clear the coastal algae clog.

In a statement, the company said the plant was suspended after the “unusual accumulation” of seaweed overwhelmed its systems. Technical teams worked around the clock to restore service, with the hope of bringing the plant back online, at least partially, within the coming hours.

AES Dominicana stated that while the company has continuous monitoring and cleaning protocols in place to combat the effects of sargassum, the current event was “unprecedented.” The company highlighted that the natural phenomenon has intensified annually in the region, with its impact...