Quintana Roo Governor Announces Start of CFE Submarine Cable Works in Cozumel

Rendering of the new CFE submarine power cable that will supply electricity to Cozumel island

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — Construction of a new CFE (Federal Electricity Commission) submarine cable to supply power to Cozumel will begin on October 5, Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa announced.

Speaking on her program “La Voz del Pueblo,” Lezama said the federal tender was awarded on September 15 and called the project a major milestone for the island’s roughly 90,000 residents, describing it as a priority for guaranteeing the island’s energy supply.

The project carries an investment of close to 3.6 billion pesos and covers about 20 kilometers of submarine cabling, according to the governor. Work is expected to take roughly a year and a half and could be completed by February 2028.

Original Project Fell Short, Governor Says

Lezama said that during talks with the Energy Ministry, officials found that the original project could not be awarded because specialists determined it did not cover all of the island’s current needs.

“Most likely, among the specialists, the project did not cover all the needs, or it was outdated compared with the project that had been drawn up based on what Cozumel needed,” she said.

After the plans were revised, the tender was completed and the award was issued on September 15.

New Cable to Replace 40-Year-Old Line

The new infrastructure will replace the cabling that currently feeds electricity to Cozumel, which Lezama said is about 40 years old. She noted that the aging line has been linked to wear and failures in the island’s power supply.

“There are 20 kilometers of submarine cabling, and do you know what it will replace? Cabling that was 40 years old,” she said.

The governor credited negotiations with federal authorities for moving the project forward and thanked President Claudia Sheinbaum, Energy Secretary Luz Elena González and their teams for the changes that allowed the project to go to tender and be awarded.

“It’s worth pursuing, it’s worth knocking on doors,” Lezama said in announcing the October 5 start date.

Discover more from Riviera Maya News

Sign up to receive a summary of the best news in your inbox, every day.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

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