Regional energy integration marked the successful closing of OLADE’s VIII Energy Week and IRENA’s First Energy Transition Investment Forum for Latin America, which took place November 6-10 in Montevideo. This event, organized by the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), attracted 3,500 participants, had 54 events, 257 panelists and approximately 50 delegations.
The closing ceremony was led by representatives of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Andrés Rebolledo, executive secretary of OLADE, highlighted the achievements of the VIII Energy Week, such as the regional certification of clean hydrogen, the methane observatory, the challenges of electromobility, gender and energy, the role of communication in transition processes and the inclusion of the business sector in an open and continuous dialogue with ministers and energy authorities. These efforts undoubtedly contribute to the fulfillment of the objectives that motivated the creation of OLADE 50 years ago.
Gurbuz Gonul, Irena’s Director of Partnerships and Country Support, expressed the institution’s commitment to increasing cooperation with countries and organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, ready to work more closely with the region.
Natacha Marzolf, IDB representative, highlighted the main message of the Energy Week: to move forward with the energy transition, key to meeting climate goals, and to accelerate investments in renewable energies and new technologies, such as green hydrogen. She stressed that the transition must be just, inclusive and sustainable, leaving no one behind.
Finally, Elisa Facio, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay, highlighted the importance of the issues addressed, especially energy integration. She trusts that Latin America, the Caribbean and the world will consolidate these efforts.
The closing of the event included a central closing panel with the exchange of ideas on energy issues between the former presidents of Uruguay, Julio María Sanguinetti, Luis Alberto Lacalle and José Mujica. All agreed on the importance of consolidating these issues as matters of State, transcending governments, as was achieved in Uruguay with the first energy transformation. In addition, they highlighted the relevance of issues such as regional energy integration, electromobility, the exploration of new technologies such as green hydrogen and renewable energies, among others.
Communications and Institutional
Relations Department
josefa.corral@olade.org