The regional technical workshop, “Energy Efficiency Trends in the Use of Fossil Fuels”-which main objective was to share up to date progress and identify opportunities that contribute to the development of energy-efficient approaches, had a special focus on the transport sector, which consumes the most energy in the country. According to 2012records, the Colombian transport sector demanded about 44% of the 1,094,136 Tj of the total energy consumed that year. The sector with the second largest energy demand is the industry, with 21%.

September 25 was characterized as a technically intense day, where National government high level officers shared the obtained political, regulatory and technical achievements that have contributed to the diversification of the energy mix in the transport sector, which has been experiencing a preoccupant energy consumption rise in recent years. Meanwhile, managers of major private companies presented their experiences with the incorporation of new fleets as hybrid electric vehicles and taxis in Bogota, while the head of the Medellin Metro buses spoke about the upcoming launch of the new tram as public transport option for the Aburrá Valley.

The workshop addressed other highly interesting issues such as the progress of Colombia’s Energy Efficiency Program, while at a subsector level more information about energy efficiency comprehensive planning was shared through the presentation of the National Plan for natural gas supply, and the presentation of the regulatory agenda for liquid fuels and LPG, which included a portfolio of opportunities for Colombia. The National Association of Industries (ANDI), participated with an overview of the potential of self-generation and cogeneration in Colombia.

Given that the industry also plays an important role in the country’s energy outlook, the workshop included a section on energy efficiency in the industry sector, with the aim to raise awareness of the significant opportunities that are being developed to improve energy efficiency sector, mainly through thermal processes such as updating boilers and furnaces, and the application of direct heat instead of steam in certain processes. Ecopetrol shared with the audience its comprehensive energy management plan for the oil chain, while the University of Antioquia and UPME discussed the results of their joint research on opportunities for improving energy efficiency in industrial thermal processes.

The event concluded with a panel on financial strategies for implementing energy efficiency measures in transport and industry sectors. This panel included representatives of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Clean Energy Programme for Colombia and Colombia’s Business Development Bank, BANCOLDEX.

This workshop gathered about 55 people, mainly from the private sector. However, representatives from academic institutions and the district and national governments were present. The OAS Department of Sustainable Development through the ECPA Clearinghouse co-hosted this regional workshop, which was also attended by officials from the Chilean Energy Efficiency Agency (Achee), the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines, and the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining of Uruguay.

This workshop was jointly organized by the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) of the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia, and is the third in a series of four regional workshops that the ECPA had programmed for the 2013-14 period.

Presentations:

– Alejandra Henao, Organization of American States (OAS): Introduction to the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Angela Cadena, Energy and Mining Planning Unit (UPME): Colombia’s Energy Efficiency Program. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Beatriz Herrera, Energy and Mining Planning Unit (UPME): Nacional Natural Gas Supply Plan. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Jorge Pinto Nolla, Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG): Liquid Fossil Fuels Regulatory Agenda. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Daniel Romero, National Industry Association (ANDI): The Potencial Autogeneration and Cogeneration in Colombia. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Evamaría Uribe Tobón, GASNOVA: Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG): Opportunities for Colombia. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Andrés Amell, Antioquia University: Energy Efficiency Improvement Opportunities in Industrial Thermal Processes. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Marcela Betancourt Muñoz, SITP Bogotá: The Transport Hybrid System Experience. See presentation in Spanish, here.

– Jaime Alberto Wilches, Medellín Metro: Fleet Renovation with Natural Gas Vehicles (GNV) and a Tram as a New Transport Option for the Aburra Valley. See presentation in Spanish, here.

-Andrés Baquero, IDB: Financial Strategies for the implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures in the Industry and Transport Sectors. See presentation in Spanish, here.

-Doris Arévalo, BANCOLDEX: Financial Strategies for the implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures in the Industry and Transport Sectors. See presentation in Spanish, here.