Energy efficiency will be the focus of a regional technical workshop to be held September 25 in Bogotá, Colombia. The event—on “Energy-Efficient Trends for Fossil Fuel Use”—is sponsored by Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, through its Energy and Mining Planning Unit, and the OAS Department of Sustainable Development.

Colombia has seen a sharp upturn in oil, natural gas, and coal production in recent years, due to a series of regulatory reforms in 2008 that have spurred more exploration and development in this sector. At the same time, energy efficiency is becoming an increasingly important part of the energy picture. Countries around the world are looking to reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuels, increase productivity, and efficiently manage their resources.

The ECPA Clearinghouse, coordinated by the OAS, will support the Ministry of Mines and Energy in holding this workshop. The event will highlight trends in the use of fossil fuels in Colombia, mainly in the industrial and transportation sectors, which are the biggest energy users in the country and have significant potential for greater energy efficiency.

Government representatives from the South American countries will attend the workshop, along with local, regional, and international experts in the field, to provide their views, share their experiences, and exchange best practices related to fossil resource management in the region.

Representatives of the Colombian government will lay out the progress they have made in terms of the regulation, administration, efficiency, and sustainability of fossil fuels. Government officials from Chile, Peru and Uruguay will also attend this workshop. This event is the third in a series of four regional technical workshops the ECPA Clearinghouse is holding in the 2013-2014 period.