La Paz, April 25- The ECPA Energy Efficiency Working Group and the MHE of Bolivia convened an energy efficiency workshop for discussing the guidelines of the Energy Efficiency and Savings Strategic Plan for the Plurinational State of Bolivia in a two-day event, on April 23 – 24, 2013. With nearly 120 participants, including officials of the Government of Bolivia, as well as representatives of the governments of Colombia, Chile and Mexico, the meeting facilitated the exchange of experiences regarding the design and implementation of energy efficiency policies and programs. Representatives of the OAS, OLADE, ECLAC, IADB, UNEP and the World Bank also contributed and actively participated in this workshop.

Energy efficiency is a core concept for the Bolivian politics energy development. Through the implementation of the new Energy Efficiency and Savings Strategic Plan for the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the National Government intends to use energy resources more efficiently, to reduce energy generation needs, to alleviate pressure on natural resources and to generate an energy efficiency market. In this regard, the Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Mr. Juan Jose Sosa, commented that “as a Ministry they felt they had the responsibility to take the first step in the establishment of an energy efficiency network and thanked the presence of all participants.”

During the workshop, the MHE officially launched the Bolivian Energy Efficiency Network (http://red-ee.hidrocarburos.gob.bo/ ). Over 30 Bolivian institutions formally declared their interest in joining this network that will provide a space for dialogue on strategic planning, in which both public and private stakeholders may participate. This network will have a national scope and will encourage the participation international stakeholders that will nurture discussions of the challenges that the rational use of energy imposes. Likewise, a database that will provide energy indicators on efficiency and use to serve as the basis for dialogue, is being developed within this Network framework. Finally, capacity building and human resources training programs will be promoted through this Network as well.