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Iberoamerican Ministerial Meeting
"Energy Security in the Latin American Region:
Renewable Energy as a Viable Alternative"
26-27 September 2006 | Montevideo, Uruguay
 

 

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Daily web coverage: 26 September - 27 September

 
Highlights for Tuesday, 26 September 2006
 
 
Opening Session: Jorge Lepra, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay welcomed participants to the meeting and highlighted that energy issues require innovative policies to coordinate the interests of society, States and the market.

 

The Iberoamerican Ministerial Meeting on “Energy Security In Latin America: Renewable Energy as a Viable Alternative” opened on Tuesday 26 September 2006, in Montevideo, Uruguay. The meeting was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in cooperation with the Secretariat of the IberoAmerican Summit (SEGIB), and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay. The meeting was convened to provide a forum for Ministers and representatives of the Government from the region to discuss energy security and agree on a regional cooperation programme to harness the potential of renewable energy technologies in meeting the region’s growing energy needs, especially in the context of Latin-American economic and social realities.

On Tuesday morning, Jorge Lepra, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay welcomed participants to the meeting and highlighted that energy issues require innovative policies to coordinate the interests of society, States and the market, in order to ensure sustainable development and equity in access to energy sources in the region. Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director General, recognized Latin America’s progress in promoting renewable energy and emphasized Mercosur cooperation. Enrique Iglesias, Secretary General of the Iberoamerican Summit, noted the region’s privileged position regarding energy resources stating that in order for renewables to be competitive, conventional fuels must internalize their true costs. He highlighted the need to reconcile energy and environmental needs to take advantage of the potential of hydroelectric power, and attract investments in this field. Iglesias also stated this moment is an excellent opportunity to develop projects and programmes in the renewable energy field. In addition, he recognized the role of UNIDO, together with the SEGIB and the governments of the region, in establishing a Regional Observatory for Renewable Energy, as a Latin American network for information sharing on energy matters and a center for the development of future projects and programmes in this field.

The first panel introduced global energy supply and demand scenarios, as well as potential and perspectives for the Latin-American region. In the afternoon, two panels addressed energy security and potential for renewable energy sources in Latin America and market conditions for renewable energy in the region. Participants underscored the importance of enhancing intraregional energy markets, developing renewable energy sources, reducing dependency on foreign oil, increasing energy security; and diminishing vulnerability of States in the region. A closed meeting of Ministers of Energy was held in the evening.

 

   
Jorge Lepra, Minister of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay
 
Kandeh K. Yumkella, UNIDO Director General
 
Enrique V. Iglesias, Secretary General of the Iberoamerican Summit

 

Global Energy Perspective Panel

 

 
 
Martín Ponce de León, Undersecretary for Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay (Moderator)
 
Jean-Paul Carteron,Chairman & Founder of CRANS MONTANA FORUM & Monaco World Summit
 
Antonio Pflüger, Head of the Energy Technology Collaboration Division, International Energy Agency (IEA).
 
Carlos Magariños, Senior Associate Member, Oxford University and ex Director General of UNIDO
 
José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo, President of PETROBRAS, Brazil
 
Maite Costa, Iberoamerican Association of Energy Regulatory Entities (ARIAE)

 

 
 
 
Silas Rondeau Cavalcante Silva, Minister of Mines and Energy, Brazil
 

 

 

Energy Security in the regional context: Potential of renewable energy sources
The panel on energy security in the regional context emphasized the vast potential of untapped renewable energy resources. Wilfredo Jara, (Endesa -Spain), Mark Lambrides (Director, Regional Secretary for LAC, REEEP), Álvaro Ríos Roca (Executive Secretary, OLADE) Pablo Serra (Executive Secretary of the National Energy Commission, Chile, Moderator) José Luis Martínez Martin (Spanish Energy Club), Daniel Bouille, (Fundación Bariloche - Argentina)

 

 
 
Pablo Serra, Executive Secretary of the National Energy Commission, Chile (Moderator)
 
José Luis Martínez Martin, Spanish Energy Club
 
Mark Lambrides, Director, Regional Secretary for LAC, REEEP

 

 
 
Daniel Bouille, Fundación Bariloche (Argentina)
 
Álvaro Ríos Roca, Executive Secretary, OLADE
 
Wilfredo Jara, Endesa (Spain)

 

Market conditions for renewable energy in the region

 

 
Celia Barbato, Director, Technological Laboratory Uruguay (Moderator)
 
Pablo Rosenthal-Brendel, Interamerican Development Bank.
 
Antonio Baena, Director of Garrigues (Spain)

 

 
Manlio Coviello, CEPAL
 
Carmen Fernández Rozado, President of the Task Force on Clean Development Mechanism of the Iberoamerican Association of Energy Regulatory Entities (ARIAE)
 
Xabier Viteri Solaun, Director of Renewable Energies of IBERDROLA (Spain)
 
Daily web coverage: 26 September - 27 September
 
 
 
 
Related Links
 
 
Conference's website
UNIDO website
Iberoamerican General Secretariat (SEGIB)
Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) of the Government of the Eastern Republic of Uruguay website
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UNIDO URUGUAY
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