Bolivia to use Olacde presidency to promote diversified, integrated energy systems

Bolivia will take over the presidency of the ministerial committee of the Latin American Energy Organization, known as Olacde, in October and plans to use the role to advance four areas of energy policy.

The organization said the agenda would promote fair and sustainable energy diversification, energy security and transition fuels, regional energy integration and infrastructure, as well as investment, financing and innovation. The priorities emerged from a meeting between Bolivia’s hydrocarbons and energy minister, Marcelo Blanco Quintanilla, and Olacde executive secretary Andrés Rebolledo, a former Chilean minister.

The diversification agenda includes renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric mobility and new uses of energy. On energy security, the plan identifies natural gas as a key transition fuel and calls for stronger and more resilient energy supplies.

Regional integration would involve linking national electricity systems, developing strategic infrastructure and harmonizing regulations. The investment component seeks to attract public and private capital, encourage public-private partnerships, strengthen financing mechanisms and support technological innovation.

Representatives of the European Union, Germany’s embassy in Bolivia and the German development agency GIZ also attended the meeting. Their participation was presented as support for the technical and financial cooperation needed to implement the agenda. Bolivia is one of Olacde’s 27 member countries.