Paraguay presents master plan for electric mobility in urban transportation and logistics

Statement from the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development of Paraguay

This is an automated translation of the original press release issued in Spanish

Paraguay presented this Thursday, May 18, its Electric Mobility Master Plan for Urban Public Transport and Logistics (PMME), with the potential to become a Latin American benchmark in electromobility. This plan is the country's commitment to improve the environmental, economic, and social conditions of the population through coordinated actions in the transportation sector. The event was held at the Gran Hotel del Paraguay, in Asunción, with the participation of national authorities, representatives of international organizations, the business sector and civil society.

The PMME is an unprecedented effort in the Nation, the result of participatory workshops with the presence of high-level representatives and technical specialists from key departments for the conception, feedback and validation of the contents that now represent the commitments to be fulfilled. Experiences and good practices were also exchanged with countries in the region that have already made progress in the implementation of electric mobility.

Paraguay has great opportunities for the development of electromobility thanks to the production generated by its large hydroelectric plants, Itaipu and Yacyretá, which provide the renewable energy necessary to become a country that moves completely clean. It is estimated that by 2040, with the implementation of the PMME, the country will position itself as a benchmark in the Latin American region for its transition to electric mobility.

The PMME contemplates the replacement of 100% of the public transport bus fleet, 50% of the taxis and the inclusion of electric bicycles in the five main cities of the country. Likewise, the replacement of 50% of cargo trucks with electric vehicles, 50% of wagons dedicated to delivery and 100% of delivery motorcycles is expected. Achieving these established goals will not be possible without a strong and consolidated governance structure, which is why the recently formed Electric Mobility Strategic Council (CEME) becomes relevant.

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development ( MADES ) and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications ( MOPC ), through the vice ministries of Transport and Mines and Energy, led the preparation of the PMME. The initiative is part of the EUROCLIMA+ Program, financed by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The program is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation ( AECID ), French Development Agency ( AFD ), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ( ECLAC ), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit ( GIZ ) GmbH and UN Environment. The work was carried out by a consulting team made up of the E-Mobilitas Group of Mexico, the Mobility Institute of Spain and the Paraguayan counterpart Fundación Yvy Porã.

The full plan can be seen here.