(11 July 2008) Ensuring equal access to energy sources, diversifying the energy matrix and advancing towards regional energy alliances are some of the priorities signaled out by regional authorities during the inauguration of the Southern Cone Regional Workshop on Sustainable Energy and Energy Cooperation and Integration, held in the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) headquarters in Santiago, Chile.
The workshop was inaugurated this morning by ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena, the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, the President of Chile's National Energy Commission, with ministerial rank, Marcelo Tokman, and the United States Ambassador in Chile, Paul Simons.
In her presentation, the ECLAC Executive Secretary outlined the main challenges facing the region. First, reducing energy intensity, given that Latin America and the Caribbean have the highest rate of energy demand per productivity. Secondly, increasing coverage to provide greater access to energy sources to the poor.
Ms Bárcena also stressed the need to diversity the energy matrix; this can be an opportunity to eliminate obstacles to the use of renewable energy. Research and development in innovation should also be promoted, as a way to address the need for investment.
"If we can combine energy efficiency, equity, diversification, investment and research and development, we can achieve greater energy integration and finally, greater energy security," she said.
The Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, pointed out that energy consumption in Latin America has risen at a faster rate than the region's GDP, and that recent projections of energy consumption indicate that by 2025, developing countries will increase their energy consumption by 91%.
"The time has come to review energy generation and consumption patterns, and include energy savings as another component of the energy matrix (...) Energy security implies promoting a diversified energy matrix (...) Large-scale renewable energy systems such as wind power plants, biomass electricity and hydric and geothermal energy offer economic, environmental and energy security advantages," stated Mr. Insulza.
Minister Tokman proposed "introducing new, increasingly clean and renewable energy alternatives; advancing towards a constant process of technological renovation and change in cultural models and daily habits in order to make a more adequate, sustainable and efficient use of energy; anticipating and mitigating the environmental impact inherent to energy activities; and improving the operation of energy markets."
Mr. Tokman se forth three lines of work: ensuring equal access to energy, regulating the international trade of energy goods and services so as to guarantee universal access, and designing a legal framework with clear rules for regional energy alliances.
The U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Paul Simons, referred to measures the region could adopt to strengthen energy security: "First, provide incentives and encourage the private sector and research institutions. Second, work closely with Brazil on the issue of biofuels. And third, raise awareness in the region."
The Southern Cone Regional Workshop on Sustainable Energy and Energy Cooperation and Integration was organized by ECLAC and the Department of Sustainable Development of the OAS. Participants include authorities and energy specialists from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, among other countries.
This is the first of four subregional workshops on energy agreed upon during the Inter-American Meeting of National Authorities and Experts on Energy for Sustainable Development, which took place last March in Washington, D.C.. Delegates to the meeting resolved to organize these workshops to discuss the issues raised in the Declaration of Panama on Energy for Sustainable Development approved in the last General Assembly of the OAS.
The next workshop will be held in the Bahamas on July 23, followed by similar events in Peru and Central America.
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For further information, please contact ECLAC's Information Services. Email: dpisantiago cepal.org; telephones: (56 2) 210 2380/2149. |
