Environmental Groups Demand Transparency on CFE Submarine Power Line in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Environmental groups called on the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) this Thursday to provide transparency for a submarine power line project linking Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, warning it could devastate fragile marine ecosystems if not properly supervised.

In a press conference, activists urged the CFE’s Peninsular Transmission Regional Management to disclose details of the LT Playa del Carmen–Chankanaab II project, which involves installing an underwater cable. They cautioned that without adequate oversight, the work could have severe consequences for the area’s rich biodiversity, including coral reefs and protected species.

Hans Ramírez, an open-water trainer, explained that his team has monitored the reef for six years and submitted a document to the CFE and environmental authorities demanding an open and transparent public consultation. He reported that a recent monitoring effort recorded over 100 observations, including species protected under Mexican law and corals critically endangered worldwide.

Ramírez noted that the project entered the environmental approval process with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in 2022, receiving authorization despite earlier disruptions to city roads during preliminary work. He added that the project has temporarily closed Playa 88, drawing opposition from local residents and businesses due to impacts on the beach area.

“Our main concern is the state of the coral reefs, which are extremely sensitive to human activities,” Ramírez emphasized. He clarified that the groups do not oppose the electricity supply but insist the project proceed with specialized environmental guidance to protect the reef and the area’s last remaining mangrove.

“We are not against this project, but we are against things being done poorly,” he stated.

The activists requested a public meeting with the CFE to explain the project’s full scope and mitigation, protection, and conservation measures.