Bogotá, April 22, 2021. With the support of the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions – UK PACT, GGGI launched the project that will deliver demand-driven technical assistance to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the Institute for Planning and Promotion of Energy Solutions for Non-Interconnected Areas (IPSE) and selected private-sector developers to advance Colombia’s energy transition, providing sustainable and affordable energy solutions to 100,000 vulnerable rural households, as committed by the government in its National Development Plan 2018-2022.

The project aims to:

1. Increase the capacity of sub-national entities to design, plan, structure and implement renewable energy solutions for non-interconnected areas (ZNI).
2. Develop Sustainable Rural Energization Plan(s) (PERS) for priority regions (Departamentos).
3. Strengthen project proposals submitted to MME’s Royalties System Program (SGR).
4. The project will also deliver technical assistance to selected private sector developers to develop replicable off-grid electrification business models and bring selected projects to bankability. For this component, GGGI published a call to select a minimum of three projects that will receive up to USD 50,000 each for social, environmental, technical and economic feasibility studies, due diligence, legal structuring, and other activities or studies related to the structuring of the project. More information here.

The launch was marked by hosting the webinar “Working Together for Universal Access to Energy in Colombia” on Earth Day, counting on the special participation from the Minister of Mines and Energy, Diego Mesa, GGGI President & Chair, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, and the British Ambassador to Colombia, Colin Martin-Reynolds CMG.

Regarding this collaboration, Minister Mesa highlighted: “We are pleased to work hand in hand with GGGI and UK PACT in this initiative, with which we seek to better understand energy sources that are suitable to the most remote regions of the country. This will allow us to work on project formulation, in addition to their structuring and execution, and will also contribute to the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions in our fight against climate change, where we aim to reduce emissions by 51% by 2030.”

Opening the event, Mr. Ban applauded the partnership with UK PACT and the forward-facing approach by the Government of Colombia to prioritize renewable energy solutions for rural and vulnerable communities.

In this regard, GGGI Country Representative Carolina Jaramillo,  moderating the panel discussion, pointed out that “sustainable rural electrification using renewable energy is a win-win solution, meeting emissions reduction objectives, environmental conservation, inclusive participation, gender empowerment and poverty alleviation.”

The event also presented that the project will develop a virtual, free, and certifiable training program for the “Formulation and structuring of rural electrification projects with renewable energies”.  The interactive modules will be available on the MME portal in December of this year. Learn more about the course here.

“The project highlights the relationship between development and sustainability. In Colombia, approximately more than 450,000 households do not have access to electricity; that is why reaching the places not connected to the electricity grid with sustainable alternatives is of utmost importance. (…) This initiative is part of our efforts to guarantee access to affordable, safe, sustainable, and modern energy”, said the British Ambassador, reaffirming the United Kingdom’s commitment to continue supporting the country and its regions on the path of climate ambition, under the Alliance for Sustainable Growth that was signed in 2019.

Access the event broadcast here. (Available in Spanish)