CCAA Forum to Examine New Energy Partnerships for Central America in Time of Global Recession

Washington, DC — Caribbean Central American Action’s (CCAA) 2nd Annual Central American Energy Supply Security Forum will feature sessions focusing on “Creating Energy Partnerships for Sustainable Supply.”  The forum will take place at the Real InterContinental Hotel in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on May 6-7, 2009. 

With energy prices at record highs, CCAA's first Central American Energy Supply Security Forum in Panama in May, 2008, focused on the urgent need to ensure energy security for Central America through increased diversification of supply sources.  Today, however, with the drastic drop in prices coupled with the global financial crisis, decision makers in governments and the private sector have to reevaluate policies and projects.  While Central America boasts impressive potential in the areas of hydroelectricity and wind energy, multi-million dollar projects have stalled, with governments and companies unable to finance them or sustain the costs.  In addition, with fossil fuel prices lower than last year, there are questions as to sustainability of current energy policy.  The question today is how much instability in pricing will continue to affect needed investments in alternative energy projects.    

This 2nd Annual Central American Energy Supply Forum will address how the global situation has affected the investment and policy environment in the region. Forum sessions will bring together energy sector executives, regional private sector leaders, government officials, investors and academics to highlight current and future regional and hemispheric energy partnerships between governments, the private sector and non-governmental institutions. Discussants will also seek to examine Central American fossil fuel use; the future of regional electricity interconnection projects in the face of disparate national agendas and volatile costs; regional conservation policies and campaigns as countries work towards the Central America Integration System's (SICA) Sustainable Energy Strategy of 2020; and the opportunity for a U.S.-led hemispheric energy partnership.

Confirmed sponsors for the forum include Chevron and Exxon Mobil.  CCAA is also pleased to announce the American Chamber of Commerce of Guatemala as a key collaborating organization. 

To register and get access to the agenda for the 2nd Annual Central American Energy Supply Forum, please click here. For sponsorship opportunities package, please click here.  We also encourage you to visit our website www.c-caa.org for updates or to call 202-466-7464 ext. 24.

Caribbean Central American Action (CCAA) is a non-governmental organization that promotes private sector-led economic development in the Caribbean Basin. Information about the organization and other CCAA activities can be found on our website at www.c-caa.org.

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