With the participation of delegations from 27 member countries, the 56th Meeting of Ministers of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) concluded last Friday, October 9. This meeting—the organization's highest political and decision-making body, held annually—took place in Santo Domingo on October 8 and 9 and was held in conjunction with the 11th Energy Week.
Continuing the discussions on regional integration, security of supply, and the urgent need for investment that took place at the opening of the ministerial forum, the authorities reflected on the global energy situation and reiterated the need for cooperation among countries, prioritizing regional energy integration in the face of the impacts of the global conflict on the region. Accordingly, they approved a set of practical resolutions designed to guide the region's energy future.
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To better understand its scope, it is essential to grasp what this forum represents: the Ministerial Meeting is the political heart of OLACDE, the annual forum where the region's top energy authorities converge to transform shared needs into official guidelines. In this sense, Ministerial Decisions reflect the agreements reached by the region's leading energy officials. They are the result of high-level political dialogue and establish the strategic priorities that guide the work of OLACDE and its member countries. The main agreements reached are detailed below for the information of the press and the general public:
Key Ministerial Agreements for the region:
- Artificial Intelligence and Energy (Ministerial Decision LVI/D/586): The ministers agreed to conduct a regional diagnosis on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the electricity sector —including the demand from data centers— and created a Technical Group (TG) to ensure the ethical, safe and efficient use of these tools in smart grids and renewable energy.
- Electrification of Energy Demand (Ministerial Decision LVI/D/587): It was approved to promote a diagnosis and regulatory frameworks that facilitate the use of electricity in priority end consumption sectors, promoting storage technologies and intelligent demand management.
- Creation of the Regional Youth Council on Energy (Ministerial Decision LVI/D/588): This permanent space for dialogue and participation was established to formally incorporate the perspectives, proposals and capabilities of the new generations in regional energy sustainability and transition.
- Circular Economy and Life Cycle (Ministerial Decision LVI/D/589): A mandate was established to assess and promote the life cycle management of clean technologies—such as the recycling of solar panels and electric vehicle batteries—as well as utilizing industrial waste, flue gas, and carbon capture projects.
- Targeting Energy Subsidies (Joint Declaration): Through a majority declaration, the countries highlighted the need to modernize subsidies by using data interoperability tools and institutional capacities, ensuring that state assistance efficiently reaches vulnerable sectors without compromising fiscal sustainability and respecting the sovereignty of each State.
With the adoption of these joint technical decisions, the 56th Meeting of Ministers reaffirms the commitment of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean to advance toward a more inclusive, technologically advanced, and fiscally responsible energy transition. The agreements reached in Santo Domingo consolidate a clear roadmap to strengthen regional cooperation, promote innovation, and ensure sustainable development that directly benefits citizens throughout the region.