As part of the IX Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held on April 8 and 9 in Honduras, the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) had an active presence, reaffirming its commitment to regional energy integration as a key pillar for sustainable, sovereign, and equitable development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
During his address at the Summit, OLADE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo, stated: “There will be no successful global energy transitions without the contribution of Latin America and the Caribbean. We are, as they say, a solution region.” He also emphasized that in 2024, 70% of the region’s electricity came from renewable sources, although the full potential of solar, wind, and hydro resources remains largely untapped.
Rebolledo outlined a roadmap to advance effective energy integration, based on:
- Regulatory convergence, to maximize the use of existing infrastructure.
- Overcoming bottlenecks that hinder regional interconnection.
- Coordinated and long-term energy planning, with a forward-looking vision to build a true regional energy market.
He also announced that in 2025, OLADE will convene a Diplomatic Conference to promote bilateral, plurilateral, and multilateral agreements in the energy sector, further strengthening cooperation among the energy systems of member countries.
In parallel, at the 2nd International Forum on Integration and Solidarity, held during the Summit, Guido Maiulini, OLADE’s Head of Strategic Advisory, participated in the panel “Strategies for Strengthening and Articulating CELAC’s Regional Framework.” In his remarks, he highlighted three fundamental pillars for energy integration in the region:
- Regulatory convergence: harmonizing legal and regulatory frameworks to facilitate regional energy exchange.
- New infrastructure: driving investments that connect systems and leverage complementarities.
- Coordinated energy planning: developing shared visions to guide the energy transition and enhance regional resilience.
The IX CELAC Summit, chaired by Honduras as Pro Tempore Presidency, aimed to adopt the Tegucigalpa Declaration, a key document outlining the future direction of regional policy and integration.
At the end of the Summit, Honduras officially handed over the Pro Tempore Presidency to the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, marking a new chapter in regional integration efforts.
From OLADE, we reaffirm our commitment to building a fairer, more sustainable, and interconnected energy future for Latin America and the Caribbean.
