Faced with the global energy crisis occurring worldwide as a result of the war in Ukraine, of which Colombia is no stranger, the National Association of Generating Companies (Andeg) reiterated the country’s need to design a sustainable electricity market within the framework of a diverse, safe and orderly energy transition.
During the union-organized Energy Forum, it was revealed that the Colombian energy sector, which is also suffering from inflation, is experiencing significant increases in fossil fuel prices, causing, for example, the country’s shortage of coal, which is a major input is in thermal generation.
“In March, we generated the alert in light of the challenges this situation poses to the stability of the National Electric System. For this reason, we see the implementation of actions that take into account the lessons of other markets related to the expansion of energy resources, in the context of the diversification of the matrix,” said Luis Alberto Páez, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Andeg and CEO of Thermoyopal.
He recalled that countries such as Germany, Italy and Spain have demonstrated the importance of minerals such as coal and gas, among other fossil fuels, for the energy transition and in the context of decarbonisation, diversification, security and stability needed to continue to provide the high quality electrical service.
Alejandro Castañeda, executive president of Andeg, argued for his part that one cannot speak of sustainability without guaranteeing energy security and the reliability of the electricity supply; important pillars for the development, economy and life of the country.
“The global energy crisis has shown us the importance of being self-sufficient and the fundamental role our industry plays in generating safe, available and robust thermoelectric energy,” he said.
“Hence the need to work in an articulate manner to achieve a fair balance between the activities of our associated companies and the conservation of ecosystems, leveraging the resources and capabilities that our country has, in a context of energy transition,” he added. †
The union leader also pointed out that they are constantly studying different alternatives to continue to provide the reliability required by the electrical system, relying on innovation and research as fundamental pillars, and contributing to the achievement of national sustainability and environmental management targets. climate change, where they have invested more than $626 billion (2021), to continue to ensure energy security and reliability.
The union’s companies have contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the influential regions and communities, through social investment of more than $20 billion in various projects, payment of taxes of more than $369 billion and more than $66 billion in transfers, as well as contributions to industrial safety and environmental conservation.
Castañeda said Andeg’s associated companies currently account for just 2.4% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: El heraldo
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.
