On December 7, 2021, a Meeting of Energy Ministers of MERCOSUR Member Countries was held, to which the associated states of Bolivia and Chile were invited.
Within the framework of the Pro Tempore Presidency of Brazil (PPTB, which ends at the end of this year) the Minister of Mines and Energy of that country, Bento Albuquerque convened the aforementioned meeting which was attended by the Secretary of Energy of Argentina, Darío Martínez, the Vice Minister of Mines and Energy of Paraguay, Carlos Zaldívar, the Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay, Omar Paganini, the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy of Bolivia, Franklin Molina and the Head of the International Department of the Ministry of Energy of Chile, Javiera Aldunate.
The meeting was attended by the Executive Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization (Olade), Alfonso Blanco, and representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Both institutions are working closely with the Southern Cone countries on the SIESUR Southern Cone Energy Integration initiative.
The Ministers signed a Ministerial Declaration where, among other points, they recognized the structuring role of the energy sector for regional integration, agreeing to strengthen the various integration initiatives; agreed that the global energy transition towards a lower carbon energy system opens new opportunities for joint initiatives; and welcomed the re-launching of the MERCOSUR Sub-Working Group N°9 “Energy” during the PPTB, which had discontinued its work in 2011.
Finally, the Ministers highlighted the role of Olade as an essential regional body for energy integration.
Here is the full text of the Declaration and more information.