LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

Energy ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

January 17, 2025

What Can Puerto Rico Do to Avoid More Blackouts?

Puerto Rico’s oil-dependent power sector collapsed on New Year’s Eve. The Aguirre Power Generation Complex in Salinas municipality, which saw an interruption on Dec. 31, is pictured. // File Photo: Puerto Rican Government.

Q

A

Cathy Kunkel, energy consultant at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis: “The New Year’s Eve blackout in Puerto Rico provides another reminder of the fragility of the island’s grid and the lack of progress made since Hurricane Maria. Even before the 2017 hurricane season, Puerto Rico’s electrical system was in bankruptcy and had experienced years of deferred maintenance that made the system especially susceptible to disaster. Today, the electrical system is in worse physical condition than it was prior to Maria. Despite legislation calling for 40 percent renewable energy by 2025 and 100 percent by 2050, the real progress in renewable energy has not come from government action, but rather…”

Top News

GeoPark Cancels Purchasing Repsol Assets in Colombia
Colombian oil and gas firm GeoPark has canceled its planned acquisition of Spanish oil major Repsol’s upstream holdings in Colombia, nixing a deal that was valued at $530 million.
Guyana Gets Loan From Ex-Im for Natural Gas Power
Guyana’s government has finalized a $526 million financing arrangement with the U.S. Export-Import Bank to construct a new natural gas-fired power plant.
Brazil’s Solar Capacity Crossed 52 GW in 2024
Solar energy capacity in Brazil hit 52 gigawatts in 2024, according to a report from industry group ABSOLAR. The organization’s director, Rodrigo Sauaia, warned in the report of the effects of new tariffs on the solar industry.

Complete editions of the Energy Services Advisor are delivered on a biweekly basis to members of the Dialogue’s Corporate Program and other subscribers. Sign up below for a free complimentary preview subscription.

ABOUT THE Energy ADVISOR

A sister publication of the Inter-American Dialogue’s daily Latin America Advisor, the weekly Energy Advisor captures fresh analysis from business leaders and government officials on the most important developments in oil and gas, biofuels, the power sector, renewables, new technologies, and the policy debates shaping the future of energy in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. To subscribe or for more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

Subscribers

Staff

Gene Kuleta
Editor
202.463.2920
gkuleta@thedialogue.org
Jack Quinn
Reporter

jquinn@thedialogue.org

board of advisors

Nigel Blackaby
Global Head, International Arbitration Group,
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

Jimena Blanco
Chief Analyst,
Verisk Maplecroft

María José Cortés
Head of ESG,
Atlas Renewable Energy

Jeffrey Davidow
Senior Counselor,
The Cohen Group

Analia Gonzalez
Leader, Arbitration & Litigation,
Laitn America, BakerHostetler

Jonathan C. Hamilton
Partner,
White & Case

Raul Herrera
Partner, Corporate &
Securities Practice,
Arnold & Porter

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Jorge Kamine
Partner, Corporate &
Financial Services,
Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Craig A. Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Government Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Jeremy Martin
Director,
Energy Program,
Institute of the Americas

Larry Pascal
Chairman, Americas
Practice Group,
Haynes & Boone

R. Kirk Sherr
President,
Clearview Strategy Group

Daniela Stevens
Director,
Energy Transition and Climate Program,
Inter-American Dialogue

Doris Rodríguez
Partner,
Hunton Andrews Kurth

Alexandra Valderrama
Director,
International Government
Affairs, Chevron

Subscribe To
Latin America Advisors

* indicates required field

The Inter-American Dialogue Education Program

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER / SUSCRÍBASE A NUESTRO BOLETÍN:

* indicates required