Electric sector roundtable offers hope amid concerns of future crisis

Paraguay's government has initiated a National Electric Sector Roundtable, bringing together various stakeholders to discuss administrative proposals and the potential creation of a new Ministry of Mines and Energy. The first inter-institutional meeting included representatives from the private sector, academia, and independent experts.

Engineer Fabián Cáceres, former technical manager of the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), described the meeting as "very interesting." He noted that the government presented administrative proposals it intends to advance and discussed the idea of establishing a regulatory entity. Cáceres expressed hope that the discussions would translate into tangible actions to address the sector's concerns, providing reassurance to the public.

"I hold the hope that this will truly turn from concern into occupation of the problem and also that it can provide tranquility and an important signal to the citizenry that something will be done," Cáceres remarked.

Looking ahead, Cáceres cautioned about a potential crisis in the energy sector by 2030. He indicated that the electrical system is trending towards saturation, which could lead to difficulties in meeting demand. The president reportedly assured attendees that the government is committed to finding solutions and that the meeting was a platform for listening and proposing ideas.

Cáceres concluded by likening the initiative to planting a seed, emphasizing that its growth and success will depend on the government's follow-through and political decisions. He expressed a desire for a "revolution in the electric sector" to ensure a continued supply of sufficient electrical energy.

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Pueden llegar a saturarse en esa época y vamos a tener dificultades para poder atender todo el sistema eléctrico.