Observatory of Renewable Energies launched in Paraguay

The Paraguayan chapter of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Observatory of Renewable Energy was launched on November 6, 2009.

The Paraguayan Observatory is a joint venture between UNIDO, Itaipu Binational, a Paraguayan and Brazilian government commission, and the National Administration of Electricity (ANDE), and constitutes a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary mechanism that encompasses all countries in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region.

In line with the priorities and regional mechanisms adopted within the LAC programme, by UNIDO and the Group of Latin America and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC), the Renewable Energy Observatory for the Latin America and the Caribbean is a UNIDO regional programme, resulting from an extensive consultation process initiated by UNIDO after the Iberamerican Ministerial Meeting held in Montevideo on the 26-27 September, 2006. One of the achievements of that meeting was the signature of an Iberoamerican Declaration by ministers and government representatives with the main objectives of promoting specific projects for productive and industrial applications of renewable energy, to reduce poverty and stimulate sustainable development in the LAC region, and to promote businesses and the export of goods directly related to renewable energy.

According to these guidelines, the Observatory is working on the identification of potential renewable energies in the country and is elaborating an energy development plan from natural sources as well as on the use of biogas as an energetic resource in agricultural and poultry farms. Developing projects in the areas of bio-fuels as well as wind and solar energy are in the works.

The Observatory also aims at combining efforts from inside and outside the region, to jointly address programmes and actions in the field of renewable energy, that would lead to enhance energy security and poverty alleviation.

National authorities participated during the launch, such as the Vice Minister of Mines and Energy, Germán Fatecha, the Vice Minister of Industry, Salvador Invernizzi, the Vice Minister of Livestock, Amín Hamann, a high representative of ANDE and the Paraguayan Director of Itaipu Binational, Carlos Mateo Balmelli.

Balmelli noted that access to clean energy is a key factor for developing modern economies, by fostering industrialization, economic progress and social integration. Furthermore, Luis María Fleitas, the Coordinator of the Observatory in Itaipu explained that the objective of the Observatory is to set up knowledge and investment platforms on renewable resources to facilitate the exploitation of renewable energy mainly by the private sector.

Additionally, on 4 December 2008, UNIDO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Itaipu Binational and Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A (Eletrobrás). This innovative partnership between UNIDO, Itaipu and Electrobras establishes a framework for cooperation between UNIDO and its counterparts, fostering the worldwide use of renewable energy sources and efficient energy technologies, to reduce poverty, increase economic growth and raise energy security.

For more information, please contact Victor Hinojosa-Barragan