Energy Challenges

MR. DIRECTOR
An interesting team will be formed by Susana Jiménez as Minister of Energy and Ricardo Irarrázabal, former Undersecretary of the Environment, as Undersecretary of Energy, professionals with great knowledge of the energy and environmental sectors who have an excellent opportunity to integrate their actions in energy and link them to the Ministry of the Environment.
Energy and the environment are absolutely complementary, as we have learned not without difficulty in recent decades. A power generation or transmission project will be successful in its formulation, execution and operation to the extent that it manages to reconcile technical and economic aspects with environmental and social aspects. Achieving sustainable projects should be the goal.
We have made progress but many challenges remain, but I will mention just two. The development of new power transmission corridors throughout the country will be increasingly complex, due to growing resistance from the affected communities. The new government will have to face the first identification of a preliminary territorial strip, with a strategic environmental assessment. Successfully carrying out this new responsibility assigned to the State will be a test. Another area where the duo has a valuable opportunity is in building a common agenda on the use of fuels with the Ministry of the Environment. Achieving air quality in cities through the sustainable use of fuels and firewood can be a major breakthrough.
Best wishes for success to Susana and Ricardo in continuing to strengthen an energy policy that supports the social and economic development that Chile needs to defeat poverty.
Hugh Rudnick