This morning, around 8:00 in the morning, the resume of Ángela María Sarmiento was published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic as the possible new vice minister of energy; however, she was removed a few hours later.
Currently, Sarmiento is the head of the Office of Regulatory and Business Affairs (Oare) of the Ministry of Mines and Energy and one of the four experts in charge of quality that the Creg currently has.
(Also read: Irene Vélez’s father vigorously defends his daughter, who could leave the Government)
The Vice Ministry of Energy arrives six interimbecause after the departure of Belizza Ruiz, Cristián Díaz, director of Electric Power of this ministry, was appointed as manager.
The Government’s backlash on this possible appointment fuels the possibility that Irene Vélez ceases to be the Minister of Mines and Energysince it is she who should possess the vice ministers.
Ángela María Sarmiento has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University from Colombia, with a master’s degree in Economics from the Santo Tomás University. She has worked as a technical director at the Superintendence of Residential Public Services, and adviser to the Creg and the National Planning Department.
She has experience as a professor of Regulation and Engineering at the Industrial University of Santander, Francisco José de Caldas District University, and a researcher in research groups accredited by Colciencias at the National University of Colombia.
(Also read: Will Irene Vélez continue to lead the Ministry of Mines and Energy?)
Irene Vélez, Minister of Mines and Energy.
Photo: Mauricio Moreno EL TIEMPO.
The National Government also backed down on the proprietary appointment of Adriana María Jiménez as an expert of the Energy, Gas and Fuel Regulation Commission (Creg)because he has been in charge for more than three months.
Jiménez is also an official of the Ministry of Mines and Energy and she has been the expert in charge at the Creg for more than three months. Her resume was published on the website of the Presidency of the Republic and deleted this morning.
Adriana Maria Jimenez is Economist from the Pontificia Universidad Javerianawith a specialization in Competition Law and Free Trade from the same university, he also has a specialization in Project Management from Cema University and a master’s degree in Economics and Public Policy from Torcuato Di Tella University.
He has 26 years of experience in public policy and regulation. She has been an advisor to the Creg, the DNP and a project consultant at PSI Consultores. likewise He worked in the Land Restitution Unit and in Fedepalma.
Reasons for the possible departure of Irene Vélez
The permanence of Minister Irene Vélez in the Government is in suspense due to new controversies. As EL TIEMPO revealed, in January while participating in the World Economic Forum, in Davos (Switzerland), from Switzerland, she planned that her husband Sjoerd Van Groothest and his minor son, will travel to that country.
To make it, Vélez would have directly contacted the Colombian Migration officialWilliam López, stationed at the Alfonso Bonilla Aragón airport, which serves Cali, so that he would let his son leave the country irregularly.
As this newspaper revealed exclusively, there is evidence that Minister Vélez herself called López to let the minor pass without providing the permits required by lawwithout exception, for these cases, and sent an email in the same sense.
Another fact that had the minister in the spotlight was the millionaire contract that her husband received from the Directorate for the Substitution of Crops for Illicit Useattached to the Presidency, for more than 128 million pesos.
(Also read: The 3 ‘sins’ of Minister Vélez that have her reeling in the Petro Government)
Irene Velez and Sjoerd Van Grootheest.
Added to the controversy over the contract was the fact that Minister Irene Vélez’s husband was on the declarations of conflicts of interest that the official reported on August 8, 2022.
However, on June 22, 15 days before Van Grootheest’s contract was signed, in a new declaration of conflicts of interest by the minister, which was posted on the Civil Service page, you left out your spouse’s name.
Following the remarks, Minister Vélez, through her Twitter account, said that “There is no irregularity, illegality or conflict of interest” regarding the contractual process and activities carried out by her husband.
And he added: “Regarding the document ‘declaration of assets and conflicts of interest’ published by the Civil Service, there was a typing error during the last update and it has already been corrected.
