Cozumel Submarine Power Cable to Be Installed Oct. 5 After 40-Year Wait

Aerial view of Cozumel's coastline where a new submarine power cable will be installed to boost the island's electricity supply

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Cozumel will finally receive its long-awaited submarine power cable, with installation scheduled for Oct. 5, Mayor José Luis Chacón announced. The project ends more than four decades of waiting and is expected to reshape the island’s electricity service.

Speaking in an interview in Cancún, Chacón said the new cable will triple the island’s power supply capacity.

A 3.6 Billion-Peso Investment

Chacón said the project represents an investment of more than 3.6 billion pesos and covers not only the marine work but also onshore infrastructure, including a 20-kilometer underground stretch.

“The investment will not only be at sea but also on land — the underground portion alone will span 20 kilometers,” he said. “It will mark a before and after for electricity on the island.”

The mayor said several developments have been unable to move forward because of insufficient power supply, including a hotel project. He pointed to a meeting the governor held with an investor in Spain during the FITUR international tourism fair.

Chacón credited President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Governor Mara Lezama with pushing the project forward, saying his administration continues working around the clock for the island’s present and future.

Cozumel, Mexico’s Top Cruise Destination

Chacón noted that Cozumel ranks first in Mexico for cruise ship arrivals and said the growth of cruise tourism benefits the island.

Under the cruise trust, he said, each visitor contributes five dollars upon arriving in Cozumel, and the state government adds another five dollars. That revenue is funding a range of public works projects.

“I am certain that within a year and a half of that money being put to use, the positive effects of these projects will already be visible for everyone,” he said.

Eight Neighborhood Reports

After delivering his government report at a civic ceremony before state and municipal authorities, Chacón said he decided to present eight additional reports in neighborhoods across the island, sharing the same results directly with residents.

New Child Care Center, Poliforum and Police Barracks

The mayor also announced the construction of a new Center for Child Education and Care (CECI), which he said will change Cozumel for the better.

He added that a Poliforum and municipal police barracks are under construction, and that crews have paved more than 125,000 square meters of roads on the island.

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By Ana Reyes

Ana Reyes covers environmental policy, conservation initiatives, infrastructure projects, and political developments across the Yucatán Peninsula for Riviera Maya News & Events. She reports on issues from sargassum management and reef conservation to the Maya Train, coastal development, and state and federal policy affecting Quintana Roo and the broader peninsula.Ana has covered environmental and political news since 2023, tracking key developments in Mexico's environmental regulations, coral reef protection, coastal zone management, and the intersection of tourism development with conservation efforts. Her reporting spans from Cancun's hotel zone to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve and the culturally significant regions of the Yucatán interior.Ana is fluent in English and Spanish, and draws from a wide range of sources including government environmental agencies, conservation organizations, academic researchers, and local community leaders to provide balanced, well-sourced coverage. She is particularly focused on how environmental policy decisions affect the daily lives of residents and the long-term sustainability of the region.For story tips: ana@rivieramayanews.mx