The Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) recently held the first meeting of the Regional Energy Planning Council, a new platform promoted by the organization to strengthen cooperation and policy coordination in the energy sector across Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Council was established as a result of the Ministerial Decision adopted during the IX Energy Week held in Paraguay. It now stands as a key mechanism for aligning visions, coordinating strategies, and promoting integrated solutions to address the current challenges facing the energy sector.
“The regional energy integration process is more urgent than ever. This Council becomes a central platform for cooperation and energy development at a time when renewable energies are gaining ground, yet we continue to face challenges in investment, regulatory frameworks, and infrastructure,” stated OLADE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo.
Rebolledo emphasized that energy integration has historically been a pillar of OLADE, but today it becomes a strategic necessity. “At OLADE, we are actively driving this collective process, which will allow us to build a Regional Energy Integration Agreement, generating synergies and systemic solutions beyond the national level,” he added.
Guido Maiulini, Head of Strategic Advisory at OLADE, highlighted that the Council is a fundamental tool to tackle the energy challenges in the region. “We are facing a unique opportunity to position energy planning as a lever for development,” he said.
Maiulini also acknowledged the commitment of member countries and the valuable technical support provided by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Colombia’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), and Brazil’s Energy Research Office (EPE). “We highlight Brazil’s leadership, which—through its G20 presidency and the Energy Transitions Working Group—has placed energy planning as a strategic pillar for developing countries,” he added.
This vision aligns with the recent creation of the Global Coalition for Energy Planning, led by Brazil, reinforcing the region’s commitment to advancing towards more integrated, sustainable, and resilient energy markets.
During this first session, the 2025 Work Plan was presented, incorporating valuable technical contributions from ECLAC, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and energy transition and decarbonization experts.
Key upcoming priorities include organizing a Council working session in June, drafting a regional energy planning diagnosis as a foundation for sustainable public policies, and hosting a webinar on energy poverty—aligned with G20 commitments and the upcoming COP30.
Through this initiative, OLADE reaffirms its commitment to collective, participatory, and results-oriented energy planning, in alignment with global challenges and the regional priorities of Latin America and the Caribbean.
