Spanish
In the midst of an international context marked by pressure on energy systems and the drive towards more sustainable models, the Dominican Republic is advancing in the elaboration of its National Energy Policy 2050, a strategy with which it seeks to redefine the future of the sector and strengthen the country's energy security.
This was highlighted by the Vice Minister of Innovation and Energy Transition, Betty Soto, during the welcome remarks at the training workshop held by the Ministry of Energy and Mines together with the United Nations (UN), through the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Bariloche Foundation, as part of the process of formulating this strategy.
The Vice Minister pointed out that the country faces significant challenges, but also opportunities to transform its energy reality through a strategy focused on energy access, diversification of generation, and the promotion of renewable energies.
"This will not only contribute to our energy independence, but will also allow us to position the Dominican Republic as a leader in the transition towards a sustainable model in the region," Soto affirmed.
For two days, representatives from different entities analyzed the scenarios and the challenge of the Dominican energy system, and also learned about the results of the diagnostic phase and the discussions held with key actors about the main problems, causes, and consequences that the future energy policy will have to address.
The Resident Coordinator of the UN System in the Dominican Republic, Julia Sánchez, pointed out that the country has become the "envy of the region", recalling the growth, development and stability that has been recorded in the Dominican Republic in the last two decades.
"The United Nations is here to accompany you in facing those challenges that still remain in society to go further. We have a five-year cooperation framework that has been agreed upon by the Dominican Government and we are committed to supporting the Dominican Republic to achieve resilient, sustainable, and inclusive development. So, this activity fits perfectly within that commitment that we have," indicated the representative of that international entity.
On her part, the official in charge of the Energy Unit of ECLAC, Mariana Gil, stated that the energy sector has an impact on different aspects of the economy, on social competitiveness and environmental sustainability. She considered that training is key to supporting sustainable processes in the face of global challenges.
"For ECLAC, the transition is not just the change of a matrix, but an opportunity to promote new development styles that allow closing structural gaps, strengthening productive capacities and generating employment," he highlighted.
During the workshop, group discussions and theoretical-practical sessions were held on the logical framework methodology, used as the basis for the elaboration of the National Energy Policy 2050. The working tables included plenary sessions led by representatives of Cepal, the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and experts from the Bariloche Foundation.
Among the exhibitors were Rafael Poveda, from Cepal, who explained the objectives of the technical assistance provided to the Dominican Republic; Ernesto Acevedo, director of Renewable Energy of the MEM, who addressed the evolution of energy policy instruments and the importance of designing a strategy for 2050; as well as Marina Recalde and Francisco Lallana, from the Bariloche Foundation, who presented the methodology, preliminary results and strategic lines of the initiative.
The workshop was also attended by Max Puig, Executive Vice President of the National Council for Climate Change and Clean Development Mechanism (CNCCMDL); representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources and of the Dominican Electric Transmission Company (ETD.
