We conclude an exceptionally atypical year, in which the pandemic has conditioned the global agenda. However, even in a context of crisis, we can attribute important results, contributions to the region, and support for the health and economic situation that our region and the world are going through. Examples of these actions are reflected in the results of the V edition of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Week, organized as every year between Olade and the Inter-American Development Bank, this time in a one hundred percent virtual format.
We demonstrated that the Energy Week is the main sectoral space in our region, bringing together governments, companies, academia, and international agencies. More than 11 panels were developed with 22 thematic tables covering all topics of interest for the region; renewable energies, energy efficiency, access, gender, impacts of the pandemic, innovation, among others.
Attendance at the thematic panels averaged over 580 participants connected through different platforms. More than 60 organizations, companies, and government representatives contributed their knowledge to the event and shared their extensive experience.
The governance meetings of Olade had representation from 21 delegations of our Member Countries, with the attendance of 9 ministers and 7 vice ministers.
Demonstrating that Olade deepens its link with global agencies, we had two top-level keynote speakers, Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, and Dr. Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency.
The ministerial political and strategic dialogue allowed for the exchange between high-level government officials on crucial issues for the region and the necessary strategies for a sustainable post-pandemic recovery.
During the presidency of the Olade Ministers’ Meeting held by the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, represented by the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Franklin Khan, the development of a regional strategy to use natural gas as an accelerator for the decarbonization of Latin America and the Caribbean, in support of the region’s energy transitions, was reported.
As a Ministerial Decision, Olade’s action to support the RELAC initiative, which aims to set a regional target of 70% participation of renewable energies in the electricity generation of our region, was announced.
For the first time, the Ibero-American Association of Energy Regulatory Entities (ARIAE) presented a document linking regulators and policymakers. Likewise, we managed for the first time to bring together the different subregional integration platforms of the region at the same table.
We are very satisfied with the results; we understand that Olade’s contribution continues uninterrupted and generates value for our region even in adverse contexts that force us to reinvent our value proposition.
Energy Week once again demonstrates that the region is moving forward and that the event constitutes the main area for regional exchange, achieving real and substantial impacts to support the development of the energy sector in LAC.
Greetings from Quito, Ecuador.
Alfonso Blanco Bonilla
Executive Secretary of OLADE
