With the participation of Chile’s Minister of Energy, Diego Pardow; the Executive Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), Andrés Rebolledo; and officials from major multilateral organizations, the tenth edition of OLADE’s Energy Week was inaugurated in Santiago.
During his remarks, OLADE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo, highlighted the importance of the event in the framework of integration:
“Over these ten years, Energy Week has become a true laboratory of ideas and, indeed, a platform for cooperation where our region analyzes, deliberates, and above all, builds the future. (…) Our organization’s mission is to develop the energy sectors, to coordinate, convene, and foster energy integration, but also to bring the voice of Latin America and the Caribbean to the world.”
He added: “We thank the Government of Chile for welcoming us in Santiago with generosity and warmth. This hospitality is a clear demonstration of Chile’s commitment to regional integration and the collective construction of a fairer, more sustainable, and sovereign energy future.”
For his part, Chile’s Minister of Energy, Diego Pardow, stressed the importance of this space in addressing the region’s energy challenges:
“The challenge during this Energy Week is to take the tensions that exist today in our societies and turn them into decisions that allow us to accelerate the transition toward a region with cleaner, cheaper, safer energy and more equitable access.”
Also speaking at the opening ceremony were Marcelino Madrigal, Head of the Energy Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Gabriela Elizondo, Manager of the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP); Jorge Srur, Regional Manager for the Southern Cone at the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF); and Daniel Werner, Director of the Global Energy Transformation Programme at GIZ.
The X Energy Week seeks to strengthen Latin American energy integration, foster international cooperation, and promote the transition toward cleaner and more secure energy systems. Throughout the week, discussions will address common challenges such as decarbonization, electromobility, green hydrogen development, and supply security.
A central milestone will be the Meeting of OLADE Energy Ministers, the organization’s highest political decision-making body, where the 27 member states will define strategic guidelines to advance energy security, integration, and sustainability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The program will continue on Wednesday, October 1, Thursday, October 2, and Friday, October 3, with more than 60 panels, workshops, and technical sessions featuring energy ministers, international organizations, academic experts, business leaders, and civil society representatives, consolidating this event as an open and highly relevant space for the entire region.
