It is a pleasure for me to resume this communication channel to inform you about the progress in our activities and the latest news on the energy sector in our region. It has been very satisfying to receive auspicious messages from the entire LAC energy community about this communication initiative that we intend to feed each month.
The previous month, I was very pleased to inform you about the opening of the OLADE’s information systems to support the development of the energy sector in our region. This initiative marked the beginning of a long-term strategy regarding the value of information as support for the development of sector policies and for the generation of knowledge. To this, I add that two weeks ago we signed the start of the Program for Strengthening the Management and Dissemination of Energy Information for Sustainable Development in LAC, this project that is channeled through a strategic alliance of OLADE with the Inter-American Development Bank. It is the second and fundamental step to allow regional energy information to be centralized, with modern platforms and to have complete and reliable regional energy information. The project also includes coordinated work with ECLAC, CIER and the support of the IEA.
In the same line of the project that we have started with the support of the IDB, but in this case already in an advanced phase at the implementation level, is the consolidation of the development of the Energy Information System of Brazil from recent work missions of officials from the Ministry of Energy to our headquarters in Quito. The size of the Brazilian economy, the strength and history of its information systems and the complexity of its energy system mark a large pilot case that tests the operation of our model and thus ensure a standard and complete platform to collect and process energy information in each country. This project, which has the financial support of CAF, is a clear example of the close work between OLADE technicians and professionals from the governments of our member countries.Our region has important unconventional hydrocarbon reserves, important hydrocarbon transport and distribution infrastructure and needs for new works, fundamentally associated with new capacities for Liquefied Natural Gas. These issues set the medium and long-term agenda for the hydrocarbons subsector, which we are working on in coordination with other agencies. Addressing issues such as the exploitation of reserves and the impacts of the application of fracking technologies and incorporating a high-level technical dialogue are some of the key issues for the medium term for the hydrocarbons subsector. In relation to our support for the development of sector policies, OLADE is implementing its Energy Planning Manual in many LAC countries. Recent activities developed for the government of Belize are an example of these actions that have the support of the Cooperation of the Government of Canada. This document is a guide for sectoral planning activities and is a valuable tutorial for policy makers. It is a pleasure for me to announce that the OLADE Energy Planning Manual will be published in less than two months and will have free access and circulation. Likewise, we are working on the development of a Useful Energy Balance Manual that will be presented soon. Having information on the final use of energy, the efficiency of the equipment park and the habits of energy use is crucial information for the design of policies on energy efficiency. Very few countries in our region have this valuable information and it is our goal to increase the number of countries that develop Useful Energy Balances.We have signed two new cooperation agreements, the first with IICA regarding activities related to biomass as a key energy resource in our region. The second with the Catholic University of Uruguay to strengthen our ties with the academic sector in the region.We are developing our first edition of the Executive Development Program in Energy and Climate Change. The program runs in blended mode from March 28 and has the support of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The face-to-face activity of the Program will take place in the city of Lima, Peru, between May 29 and June 2.To conclude I want to tell you that we are making profound changes to our training programs. Gradually access to the training provided by OLADE will be extended to all interested parties, be they public sector officials, researchers, university professors, students, independent professionals or technicians from private companies. I understand that strengthening the technical capacities of our governments and companies, training our professionals in the sector and promoting research is the most effective way to achieve the development of the energy sector in the region.As always, I thank you for your comments and proposals to my personal email address secretaria.ejecutiva@olade.org.
