Paul Keler, Global Manager of U4E presented the benefits of transforming markets to lighting, refrigeration and efficient equipment through the implementation of minimum energy efficiency standards.
For his part, Javier Campos, Director of Energy Efficiency of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru, mentioned that Peru joined international energy efficiency initiatives, assuming commitments for the reduction of Greenhouse Gases through energy efficiency activities. Additionally, he informed that the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru has been working on this issue since the 1990s through the development of policies and projects such as labeling.
At the closing of the inauguration, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Alfonso Blanco, informed that OLACDE has developed a very important synergy in energy efficiency with UN Environment and the U4E Project to boost Energy Efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean. He also explained that the Organization is promoting awareness, in the countries, on the need for policies from the demand side and its structure to reduce production costs and the emission of Greenhouse Gases.
On this day the Access to Green and Inclusive Energy workshop was also held, organized by Hivos and OLACDE, a space where there was a close approach with women representatives of communities (Guatemala, Peru and Costa Rica) benefiting from projects of rural electrification, who told their testimonies about their experience before and after having electricity.
“Actually, shocking things happen when there is electricity, there is a radical change. Costa Rica has an electrical coverage of 99.4% but there is still a percentage of the population that requires an effort ”. Magdalena Vega- Ostional Community Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
“Before we had electricity it was hard, we slept very early until the sun rises the next day. Now that we have electricity, this growth is felt in our community. We are currently producing cardamom to generate more income” Petronila de Paz- Batzchocolá Community, Guatemala.
The inauguration of the Sun World 2019, was carried out with the presence of the President of the Council of Ministers, Vicente Zeballos; OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Alfonso Blanco; the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra and the Executive Director of the International Solar Alliance – ISA, Mr. Upendra Tripathy.
In his inauguration speech at the Sun World, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Alfonso Blanco, mentioned that 20 years ago there were approximately 75 million people without access to electricity and that there are currently 18 million people. “We have made a strong effort in isolated areas including localities of Peru.”
