PRIME Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips will represent Guyana at the 56th Meeting of Ministers of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLADE), where regional leaders are expected to focus on energy security, investment, technological innovation and cooperation.
The October 8–9 meeting in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, forms part of the 11th Energy Week and will bring together energy ministers, development partners and international organisations to examine the region’s role in the evolving global energy landscape.
Prime Minister Phillips will be accompanied by Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency, Dr Mahender Sharma.
Guyana is expected to use the ministerial forum to outline its priorities for building a diversified, affordable and reliable energy system in keeping with the Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030.
Among the areas to be highlighted are the development of natural gas and renewable energy, modernisation of the national electricity grid, battery storage, energy efficiency and the expansion of electric mobility.
Guyana’s participation will also showcase ongoing efforts to extend electricity access to hinterland, riverine and Indigenous communities, with improved energy access supporting education, healthcare, local businesses and broader community development.
The Ministerial Dialogue, being held under the theme, “The strategic role of Latin America and the Caribbean in the new global energy order,” will consider how countries across the region can leverage their energy resources to attract investment, strengthen competitiveness and advance sustainable development.
Discussions are also expected to address the resilience of energy infrastructure, regional integration, and the implications of artificial intelligence and digitalisation for electricity demand and long-term energy planning.
Ministers will consider draft decisions covering artificial intelligence and energy, the electrification of energy demand, circular economy practices in the energy sector, and the proposed establishment of a Regional Council of Youth in Energy.
Guyana’s participation is expected to reinforce its commitment to regional energy cooperation and an inclusive transition that strengthens energy security while ensuring that the benefits of energy development reach households, businesses and communities.
