Although the resignation of Irene Vélez from her position as Minister of Mines and Energy occurred in unfavorable circumstances this week, In the 11 months that they remained in that portfolio, he carried out work that some spokesmen for the sector confirmed.
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But apart from Vélez’s departure and his achievements, There are those who consider that one of the most important challenges facing the Government on this front is to recover the institutionality, Well, it is clear that at this moment there is no minister, there are four commissioners of the CREG who are in charge, a situation that deserves a prompt solution.
Alejandro Lucio, president of the Association of Renewable Energies Colombia (Ser Colombia), believes that the institutionality is in charge and it is a very delicate situation that requires a prompt solution, even more so when the country is on the verge of a Child, It is not known what its impact will be, with problems in network infrastructure that will guarantee the supply of energy in some regions of the country and some pending reforms associated with the issue of energy transition.
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“A year has passed, but still nothing substantive has happened. We are with an institutionality adrift, beyond trying to personalize the departure of the minister, ”says the manager.
Upon resigning from office, Vélez Torres presented a balance with 35 achievements, among which the approval of 429,052 million pesos for the expansion and improvement of electrical coverage for the beneficiary of 41,625 users in various remote regions of the country stands out.the structuring of the 6G strategy to incorporate 6,000 megawatts of renewable energy into the national energy system, approval of royalty resources for 29.9 trillion pesos and the advances in regulations so that in August 2023 the first competitive process of offshore wind energy in Colombia begins.
The experts ask to update the Indicative Coverage Expansion Plan (Piec), which is an essential requirement of network operators’ coverage expansion plans.
But apart from the achievements and mistakes of the former official, six unions in the energy sector ask the Government to take urgent measures so that “the levels of coverage, continuity, reliability and quality of the electric power service are maintained and improved.”
I insist on the need to update the Indicative Plan for Coverage Expansion (Piec), which in his opinion no longer reflects the reality of the country and which is an essential input for the coverage expansion plans of network operators.
Juan Ricardo Ortega, president of Grupo Energía Bogotá (GEB), He recognized his work and said: “We will continue to support his transparency, honesty, good faith, humanity and generous dedication to listening and seeking the best for the parties.”
We will continue to support your transparency, honesty, good faith, humanity and generous dedication to listening and seeking the best for the parties.
There are those who consider that for a person who did not know the sector and that the sector did not know her, she gave her all and tried to do it in the best way.
“This sector, especially the energy sector, has some pride (in a good way) and perhaps they were offended by the simple fact that (the minister) was a philosopher and they thought that she would not measure up,” said a source who asked not to be named.
Perhaps something that critics did not forgive former minister Vélez for was the announcement made at the World Economic Forum, in Davos (Switzerland), in the sense that new contracts for the exploration and production of oil and natural gas would not be awarded in Colombia.statement based on a study with technical, economic and methodological problems, which will lead to enormous controversy at the time and the resignation of his Vice Minister of Energy, Belizza Ruizwho never agreed with this.
