en.Wedoany.com Reported - In the first five months of 2026, mining became the fastest-growing sector in the Dominican Republic, with increased production of gold, silver, and construction materials driving cumulative growth of 9.7%, while the average economic growth rate of the monthly economic activity indicator stood at 4.2% during the same period.
According to central bank data released by the Ministry of Energy and Mines, mining and quarrying output grew 6.4% year-on-year in May, second only to construction (7.1%). Minister of Energy and Mines Joel Santos stated that the sector's progress stems from increased activity in major domestic mineral extraction, with growth in gold, silver, and construction material output solidifying mining's position as one of the country's export pillars. Against an international backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility, mining has demonstrated counter-cyclical behavior, maintaining foreign exchange earnings, exports, and tax revenues even under adverse external conditions.
Santos noted that mining continues to consolidate its status as a strategic activity due to its ability to create high-quality jobs, helping to strengthen macroeconomic stability and support sustained economic growth. The ministry recalled that mining exports exceeded $2.5 billion in 2025, with gold as the main export product, and the sector contributed approximately 45 billion Dominican pesos in tax revenue. Santos believes this demonstrates the government's capacity to drive economic development with greater and more open investment attitudes, as well as in a more socially and sustainably responsible manner.
In terms of ongoing projects, Pueblo Viejo stands out, operated in partnership between Barrick and Newmont, with expansion work underway aimed at extending the mine's life beyond 2040. The plan includes constructing new tailings storage facilities, related infrastructure works, and a community resettlement program, investments considered key to maintaining output from one of Latin America's largest gold mines. Another strategic development project is the Romero project owned by GoldQuest in San Juan Province, which remains in the environmental assessment phase. In 2025, the company received terms of reference from the Ministry of Environment for preparing an environmental impact study, a prerequisite for applying for an environmental permit for the underground gold, copper, and silver project. Authorities reiterated that the project has not yet received mining authorization, and any decision will depend on technical and environmental assessment conclusions. Although President Luis Abinader publicly announced the suspension of the project in May, under Dominican law, such statements do not automatically constitute a legally binding suspension; the suspension, revocation, or termination of mining projects requires a formal administrative act from the competent authority, which has not yet occurred.
