Latin American electricity operators promote collaboration network

This is an automatic translation of the original release, issued in Spanish.

PRESS RELEASE from the National Electrical Coordinator
November 7, 2024

Santiago, November 7, 2024 — Latin American electric system operators announce the creation of the Latin American Electric Operators Network, a collaborative initiative aimed at addressing the challenges of the energy transition, promoting the development of more efficient, sustainable and resilient electric systems in the region.

The official presentation of this network took place during the IX Energy Week of the Latin American Energy Organization ( OLADE ), an event that brought together representatives of electric operators from all over the continent in Paraguay, consolidating the commitment of each nation to the common objectives of sustainability and security in the electric sector.

The network was created with the mission of establishing a space for cooperation that facilitates the exchange of experiences, best practices and technical knowledge. Through active participation, the members of the network will contribute to strengthening the electrical systems in Latin America, thus responding to the challenges of the transition towards clean and renewable energies.

The governance structure will be led by a five-member Council with a two-year term, ensuring equitable representation of all participants. The Council will be supported by a Technical Secretariat, led by OLADE, which will manage the planning and coordination of activities, ensuring an efficient flow of information between members and other key stakeholders in the sector.

OLADE Executive Secretary Andres Rebolledo said that this new network is a great step for the region, as it will allow for the continuous exchange of experiences and best practices in key areas such as the integration of renewable energies, cybersecurity, demand management, and the sustainability of the region's electrical systems. In addition, it will allow for strengthening regional cooperation to face the challenges of the energy transition.

The network aims to promote the exchange of strategic information and the identification of opportunities for joint projects that promote sustainable development throughout the region.

Founding entities include Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic, and work will be done to integrate more operators in the future.

The president of the Board of Directors of the National Electric Coordinator of Chile, Juan Carlos Olmedo, praised the creation of this new body, as it will allow for better articulation of the dialogue and relationship that has been formed between the different electric operators in a natural way, given that the countries face similar challenges.

“We hope that this network will allow us to enhance the work that each operator does through the exchange of experiences. It will also address aspects of the challenges posed by the integration of variable renewable energies into the networks, which is progressing more quickly than expected,” said Olmedo.