At the headquarters of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) in Quito, Ecuador, the LIX regular session of the Council of Experts took place, an advisory body of the organization that had the participation of the delegations of Member States.
In response to the challenges and opportunities posed by the global energy landscape, OLADE Member States met to jointly address the issues facing the energy sector. Representatives of government bodies in the energy sector addressed the challenges and opportunities of their countries and their impact on the region, with the aim of promoting cooperation and energy development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of OLADE, welcomed the delegations of the Member Countries and emphasized that the Council of Experts provides technical support and assistance to the Meeting of Ministers and the Permanent Secretariat, regarding the fulfillment of the objectives and functions of the organization, in accordance with the needs of the Member States.
For his part, the Presidency of the LIX Council of Experts, in charge of Venezuela, emphasized that energy plays a very important role in integration; that the instability that is currently affecting energy markets worldwide is evident, which undoubtedly has a direct impact on our populations. The region has abundant energy resources, so Venezuela calls for energy integration, with the support of OLADE.
The Vice Presidency of the LIX Council of Experts, in charge of Argentina, emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean have very important and varied energy sources, which allows the region to think of complementarity as an important phase to make progress in integration and guarantee energy security for the people.
One of the fundamental issues addressed during this meeting was the responsible exploitation of mineral resources in the region. It was emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean has abundant mineral wealth, and the need to establish sound regulatory frameworks and adequate governance to ensure that this exploitation is sustainable and environmentally friendly was emphasized.
In addition, the importance of energy integration and specifically gas was highlighted as a way to strengthen the region’s energy security. The authorities emphasized the need to promote joint projects that take advantage of complementarities between countries and facilitate stable and reliable supply.
The session also focused on energy security in the current context, post-pandemic and extreme weather events. Delegates stressed the importance of having policies that guarantee an uninterrupted electricity supply and promote the diversification of energy sources to deal with crisis situations.
Likewise, the need to continue promoting the use of renewable energies in the regional energy matrix was addressed. Despite the recognition of the progress made in this area, a slowdown in the incorporation of renewable energies in the energy matrices was identified. Participants emphasized the importance of continuing to incentivize these sources and their integration into energy development plans.
The Council of Experts had the active participation of the representatives of the Member States that attended the call made by the Permanent Secretariat of OLADE. Delegates shared experiences and good practices in the energy field. Cooperation and knowledge sharing between nations were highlighted as key elements in achieving a successful and sustainable energy transition.
OLADE reaffirmed its commitment to continue supporting the countries of the region in the search for comprehensive and sustainable energy solutions. The importance of working together to achieve the sustainable development goals and ensure a secure and prosperous energy future for generations to come was stressed.
Energy plays a critical role in the development and well-being of countries, and Latin America and the Caribbean are determined to face current and future energy challenges with a collaborative and sustainable vision.
Communications and Institutional
Relations Department
josefa.corral@olade.org