Uruguay, in the person of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM), Walter Verri, chaired the 23rd Council of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), held in Abu Dhabi on May 24 and 25, which which represents international recognition of the role that the country is playing in the development of renewable energies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported Thursday.
Regarding the work of this organization for the next period, the Uruguayan leader considered that “it must prioritize a look that allows drawing up a long-term strategy, solidifying its leadership role in promoting an energy transition on a global scale, based on the use extensive and sustained use of renewable energies’. In addition, he explained Uruguay’s plans towards decarbonization, the green hydrogen economy and the sustained participation of renewable energies in the electrical matrix.
Currently, IRENA offers Uruguay assistance in the analysis of the update of the Climate Adaptation Plan of the energy sector (NAP-E). Likewise, Uruguay has confirmed its participation in the Renewable Energy Roadmap (REmap) program for South America, which will be developed by IRENA for 18 months. REmap assesses the potential of renewable energy by conducting scenario analyzes of sectors such as industry, transportation, buildings, and transportation.
On behalf of Uruguay, the Permanent Representative to IRENA and Ambassador of Uruguay to the UAE, Álvaro Ceriani, also spoke. The Uruguayan diplomat said that “the world scenario presents various challenges for which our work at IRENA in pursuit of the promotion and development of renewable energies is even more relevant today.”
At the May 24 session, the Council recommended the renewal of Franceso La Camera, with whom Uruguay has been working successfully, as General Director of IRENA. Meanwhile, in the session of May 25, among other points, it was decided that Uruguay will continue in charge of the presidency during the next Council, to be held on October 27 and 28, 2022.
