Rosilena Lindo Riggs is leaving the role she held for the past three years as National Undersecretary of Energy of Panama, to take up a new position at the National Energy Secretariat (SNE) .
Appointed by President Nito Cortizo as Panama's new National Secretary of Energy, Rosilena Lindo Riggs will lead the energy portfolio and public policy in this administration. "In the remaining six months of this administration, we will be working to consolidate the democratization of energy and sustainable energy in all its aspects," declared the newly appointed Secretary of Energy.
It is important to note that as outgoing Undersecretary, she has been attentive to fulfilling the goals described in the Strategic Guidelines of the Panama Energy Transition Agenda 2020-2030.
These include Universal Access, Distributed Generation, Energy Efficiency, Electric Mobility, SIN Innovation and Green Hydrogen.
In recent years, her commitment to the energy transition extended beyond the National Energy Secretariat. She also stands out as a mentor for the Global Network of Women for Energy Transition, a member of the Global Council of Climate Champions, co-chair of the IDB's Latin America and Caribbean renewable energy initiative, and a member of Panama's National Energy Transition Council. Jorge Rivera Staff , the outgoing Secretary of Energy and current Minister of Commerce and Industries, publicly stated: "The first woman to lead the energy sector in Panama, with great ability, sensitivity, and integrity. All the best!"
That is no small matter.
More women are making their way into politics and energy as professionals with a strong commitment to sustainability and are a clear reflection of the initiatives carried out during this government administration by promoting gender policies that are recognized internationally ( see ).
In an exclusive interview with Energía Estratégica , Lindo Riggs referred to the "challenging" but "interesting" landscape that the sector in Panama is going through, which he will face from his new role in public service with a focus on sustainability.
In the energy sector, in addition to challenges, great opportunities for growth have been identified.
Solar energy will be a driver to increase generation in different market segments, both in utility scale as well as residential, commercial and industrial self-consumption which is registering marked growth ( see ).
In turn, other sources of generation and storage could support the growth of the sector.
Panama's recent entry into the Global Offshore Wind Energy Alliance (GOWA) is one of these windows opening up towards the diversification of the local energy matrix ( see ).
Likewise, the progress in the Conceptual Master Plan for Green Hydrogen and derivatives ( see ) also sets the standard for the growth of Panama's energy sector, which, due to its strategic position, positions the country as a hydrogen hub for the entire region.