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Editorial / Commentary / Opinion
Patrick Duddy :
Energy dialogue within reach
In April 2009, at the Summit of the Americas, President Obama invited all governments in the Western Hemisphere to join in an Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) with the goal of fostering partnerships among government, industry, and civil society to achieve clean energy supported economic growth. Governments in the region responded positively and have created and are leading new ECPA partnerships. These initiatives promote best practices, build capacity, and allow flexibility for governments to cooperate on areas of interest and mutual benefit.
On March 4, Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United States Bernardo Alvarez and I participated in a conference “Roundtable on Energy in the Western Hemisphere” organized by the Energy Council, a non-governmental organization of U.S., Venezuelan, and Canadian state legislators. Participants included PDVSA, CITGO, and representatives from eight Canadian provinces and eight U.S. states, the U.S. federal government, the private sector, and civil society. During his opening remarks Amb. Alvarez commented on the need to link concerns of energy and environment in dialogue with the U.S.
We can begin this dialogue next month when U.S. Energy Secretary Chu will host an Energy and Climate Ministerial. He has invited Energy and Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez to participate and serve as a panelist. Ministers from Brazil, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Peru, Colombia, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, El Salvador, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have already confirmed their participation. This type of event provides us an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual concern, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, cleaner fossil fuels, energy poverty, and infrastructure. One potential area for U.S.-Venezuelan cooperation could include assisting Haiti, as we all have an interest in ensuring Haiti’s economic recovery and this would require stable fuel supplies for Haiti’s citizens.
Our energy relationship with Venezuela has long been robust. Venezuela remains our fourth largest source of oil, surpassed only by Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico. Although, at the official level our relationship is complicated and difficult, a fundamentally important bilateral energy relationship exists between our countries. Our shared interests and the complementary nature of our economies should encourage us to advance energy cooperation generally. We have a vision for the bilateral relationship that recognizes the great synergies that are possible between Venezuela and the U.S. and which already yields benefits to both countries. And our vision for future energy cooperation encompasses the use of alternative energy sources. Other countries in the region share similar goals. Venezuela has a great deal to contribute to efforts in this area, and we would welcome its participation in the ECPA.
Patrick Duddy is US Ambassador to Venezuela, founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.
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