Left to right: Amcham President Javier Irarrazabal, Minister of Energy Rodrigo Alvarez, and U.S. Ambassador to Chile Alejandro Wolff, at the launching of the U.S-Chile Energy Business Council.

The U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Alejandro Wolff; the Minister of Energy, Rodrigo Alvarez; and the President of the American Chamber of Commerce, Javier Irarrázaval inaugurated the U.S.-Chile Energy Business Council (EBC) on Thursday October 6, 2011. The council was established as a response to a joint invitation made by Presidents Piñera and Obama during President Obama’s visit in March 2011. Its mission is to promote opportunities in the private sector in clean energy and support its sustained development in both countries.

Headed by Javier Irarrázaval, the council is made up of businesses and professional associations in the energy sector that will study different aspects of the sector to capitalize on opportunities. During his comments, Ambassador Wolff stated that “Through this council, government agencies can work with the expertise of the private sector to facilitate energy security, sustainable economic growth, and protection of the environment”.

Thus far, more than 15 companies and associations have signed-on the newly created EBC. In 2012, the Council will work through five working groups —Regulatory Framework, Technology, Traning, Financing, and Infrastructure— to develop clean energy and energy efficiency business opportunities, bring experts to share technical experience with Council members, and support an energy trade fair in 2012. You may contract Pablo Valdez at the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, Chile, for more information.

To read the remarks by U.S. Ambassador Wolff at the launching event click here