During the CAF conference “Latin America and the Caribbean: a region of solutions,” Andrés Rebolledo, Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), participated in the talk “Energy: a driver for the development of the region.”
Rebolledo pointed out that Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are becoming one of the greenest regions in the world, thanks to regulatory policies introduced in recent years. These measures represent the first step in the local energy transition, allowing the massive integration of clean energies.
In his speech, he mentioned that the second phase of this transition will focus on the decarbonization of the entire economy, beyond the electricity markets. According to Rebolledo, the main challenge now is the decarbonization of critical sectors such as transportation and industry.
Financial issues have been identified as another significant obstacle to the transition to renewable energies. OLADE’s calculations show that $500 billion will be needed to effectively finance the large-scale deployment of renewable energies by 2030. Another crucial aspect is energy efficiency. He argued that, although there are specific laws in this regard, energy efficiency has increased, emphasizing the need to review and strengthen these measures to ensure their effectiveness.
Finally, the quality and affordability of energy were highlighted as pressing issues for the region. Pointing out that there are still 16 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean without access to electricity, Rebolledo emphasized the need for concerted efforts to close this gap and ensure that the energy transition benefits the entire society.
In this way, the CAF Conference positions itself as a decisive space for dialogue and the exchange of ideas, reaffirming its desire to become a reference platform for debate and the creation of effective solutions in the region.
Communications and Institutional
Relations Department
josefa.corral@olade.org