Within the framework of the eighth edition of the Energy Week, the LIII Meeting of Ministers of the Latin American Energy Organization (Olade) was held, where 21 delegations of Member Countries of the Organization participated, where experts applauded the progress of the energy sector in the region, emphasizing the human, natural, scientific and technological resources that the region has to harness energy.
At the opening ceremony, the Executive Secretary of Olade, Andrés Rebolledo stressed: “To reach agreements and implement regional policies, we must be ambitious and courageous. Dare to think in regional terms, recognizing our diversity, and seeking to take advantage of our complementarity. Which is, without a doubt, where our strategic advantage is at a global level.”
The Executive Secretary also detailed the 4 initiatives carried out by OLADE: Methane Emissions Observatory of Latin America and the Caribbean; proposal for a regional Energy Efficiency initiative that involves technical cooperation actions and a regional goal; diagnosis of the potential and challenges of the production of critical minerals in the region; and fundamental studies so that gas integration agreements can be developed in the Southern Cone.
The new and recently appointed Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay, Elisa Facio, considered as valuable the joint realization of the Energy Week and IRENA’s Energy Transition Investment Forum to open “spaces to discuss and share challenges faced by the region in the energy sector and to have a space for the private sector to advance in concrete business that will bring more and better investments, with the consequent creation of jobs”.
The presidency of the LIII Meeting of Ministers of Olade, in this edition, corresponded to Argentina represented by Flavia Royón, Secretary of Energy.
Magisterial Conferences of the Ministerial Political Dialogue
Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in his keynote speech, praised the progress in the energy transition made so far by countries in the region, while underlining the urgent need for a united regional approach to accelerate further progress. In addition to highlighting the 3 facilitators to accelerate energy transitions: Infrastructure, Investment and International Cooperation.
Ariel Yépez, Infrastructure and Energy Manager of the Inter-American Development Bank, mentioned that “we are very pleased to have OLADE as a strategic partner for all the management that is done for the dissemination of best practices in policy and information of the energy sector throughout Latin America”. “Everything suggests that the goal of 70% participation of renewable energies in the regional electricity matrix committed to in the RELAC initiative for Renewable Energies in Latin America and the Caribbean will be achieved by 2030. This confirms the leadership of Latin America and the Caribbean in the global energy transition and the leadership of the support of such important agencies as OLADE and IRENA.
Jorge Srur, Regional Manager of CAF, indicated that “the JUST energy transition has a particular double dimension: “just” in the sense of inclusivity, justice and equity, and on the other hand of adequacy, tailored, timely. This is what OLADE and this meeting have been proposing. Just transition is the only possible one. If it is not just, there is no way to reach the goals.”
Mary Burce Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that “moving towards clean energy requires the involvement of innovation, policy and technology actors.” “For Latin American and Caribbean countries to achieve clean energy commitments, it will be essential to have large public-private partnerships that bring together innovative, financial and local community support ecosystems. It is necessary to have this dialogue.”
Mohamed Hamel, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), said that “Latin America and the Caribbean is an excellent example of the crucial role of energy in sustainable development.” “There must be cooperation in Latin America and the Caribbean to unlock the potential of natural gas; infrastructure and markets must be developed jointly to drive growth in the region. Harmonized regulations and investment in gas value chains must be encouraged.”
Within the framework of the LIII Meeting of Ministers and the Ministerial Political Dialogue, the ministerial dialogue on Financing for Energy Transitions was also held under the leadership of IRENA.
OLADE Recognitions
Simón Bolívar Integration – Andean Parliament
In commemoration of OLADE’s 50th anniversary, the Andean Parliament awarded its highest distinction, the Simón Bolívar Integration Recognition, for its contributions to the region, especially in the development of legislative harmonization and support in proposals for regulatory frameworks for sustainable energy development, classification of energy crimes and energy efficiency in the Andean region.
50 years – MIEM
The main authorities of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay granted recognition to OLADE for its 50th anniversary in the framework of the VIII Energy Week that takes place this week in Montevideo.
Panel Gender and Energy
The former Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet, participated as a keynote speaker on this panel, who welcomed the possibility of establishing a Commission on Gender and Energy at OLADE:
“It is terrific and very good news. It’s going to do a lot of good for the region’s energy sector.”
During the VIII Energy Week, high-level technical panels are held with regional representatives of the energy sector.
If you missed some of the panels made so far you can follow them on OLADE’s YouTube channel at: https://youtube.com/oladeorg
You can browse the photos here
Communications and Institutional
Relations Department
josefa.corral@olade.org
