The Government of Peru formalized the appointment of Francisco Martín Mendoza Saldarriaga as the new Vice Minister of Electricity of the Ministry of Energy and Mines , through Supreme Resolution No. 011-2025-EM , signed by President Dina Boluarte and Minister Jorge Luis Montero.
His appointment comes after a massive blackout in the south of the country and amid growing tensions over the role of natural gas in the national energy matrix.
"The Deputy Minister of Electricity formulates, coordinates, executes and supervises the sustainable development policy in the field of electricity," states the official document.
The new official is a Mechanical Electrical Engineer from the National University Pedro Ruíz Gallo and holds a Master's degree in Business Management from the University of Piura , in addition to diplomas in e-business technologies and project management under the standards of the Project Management Institute (PMI) .
Between 2007 and 2012 , Mendoza served as an external consulting engineer for the Regional Directorate of Energy and Mines of Tumbes.
Previously, between 2004 and 2007 , he worked as a project engineer in the Regional Planning Management of the Regional Government of Tumbes, developing key studies for territorial development.
While it is not publicly known whether he has had a direct involvement in projects related to renewable energy, it is expected that his management will follow the trend set by the Government in promoting the new regulatory framework for the electricity sector, especially after the recent approval of Law 32249 , which enables private contracts without power backing and allows new tenders and energy storage schemes.
The appointment comes at a strategic moment for the national energy sector , in which Peru has 2 GW of operational renewables and 15 wind and solar projects with definitive concessions totaling 2.7 GW .
This is in addition to a 25 GW pipeline , reflecting the magnitude of the country's renewable potential and the private sector's expectation for clear and stable rules.
Among Mendoza's immediate challenges are three priority areas: the energy transition and decarbonization , rural electrification , and the security of the national electricity system .
Peru has made international commitments to reduce emissions and increase the share of renewables in its energy mix , which will require effective coordination between public and private entities.
At the same time, more than 6% of the Peruvian population still does not have access to electricity , which puts pressure on the government to accelerate rural electrification projects, especially in Amazonian regions.
The recent blackout also exposed the vulnerability of the electrical system to extreme weather events and peak demand.
The Vice Ministry will have to work to strengthen the infrastructure and ensure operational resilience in the face of future critical events.
The focus now is on how Mendoza will coordinate the available regulatory instruments and manage the next steps to unlock investments , expand coverage, and provide predictability to the sector at a crucial time for Peru's energy transition .