While the possibilities grow that there will be a replacement in the leadership of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, today in charge of Irene Vélez, The Government appointed Angela María Sarmiento as the new Vice Minister of Energy, replacing Belizza Ruiz, whowho left his position six months ago, in the midst of strong differences with the minister of the branch. Sarmiento is currently the head of the Office of Regulatory and Business Affairs (Oare) of said Ministry and is one of the experts in charge of the Creg.
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The Government will also appoint Adriana María Jiménez as an expert of the Energy, Gas and Fuel Regulation Commission (Creg)who until now occupies that same position on request.
During the last six months, after the resignation of Belizza Ruiz from the Vice Ministry of Energy, the Government entrusted Cristian Díaz with that responsibility and who is the director of Electric Power
As recalled, the departure of Belizza Ruiz, at that time Vice Minister of Energy, made the decision to leave that position due to strong differences with her boss and, despite the fact that she submitted her resignation as soon as the differences with the minister began to surface Vélez, the Government only decided to leave several months later (beginning of 2023).
(You may also be interested in: Independence of the Creg, in doubt for the interim of 4 of its 6 experts)
Between the two officials there were differences since the end of last year due to measures that they expected to be taken and that were not supported by the vice minister, who suspected them of being reckless.
However, the vice minister would not have accepted the resignation request made by Vélez, for which the head of the portfolio would have thought of declaring it non-existent. Despite this, finally, Ruiz opted to leave his position.
The new vice of Mines
Ángela María Sarmiento, new Vice Minister of Energy
Time / Courteous
Ángela María Sarmiento has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Colombia, with master’s studies in Economic Sciences 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.
The commissioner of the Creg
Adriana María Jiménez is the new expert of the Creg, whom the Government will ratify after being commissioned in that position.
Time / Courteous
Adriana María Jiménez, for her part, is an economist from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, with 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. She also worked in the Land Restitution Unit and in Fedepalma.
Interim in the Creg
As reported by EL TIEMPO on July 13, in the country’s energy sector, concern has been growing about the interim status of the Creg, in which four of its commissioners have been there on assignment since last April, but President Gustavo Petro, together with Minister Vélez, extended that order for three more months.
Although the Creg is attached to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, This entity has been characterized by being independent, since it is in charge of developing all the regulations for electric power, fuel gas and liquid fuel services in the country.
The fact that officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and Upme have been appointed as experts in charge of an entity that has been characterized as being independent of public policy is what is calling into question the independence of the decisions that are being made. taking inside the Committee of Experts of the Creg.
Camilo Sánchez, president of Andesco, said in this regard that it is key that President Petro name these commissioned experts as property because today they are not independent technicians, as they should be.
“We cannot change the technical for the political. That would be a huge setback,” he said. The union leader is also concerned that after several months as managers, the president has not decided to appoint them as property if they meet all the requirements that are required.
