MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Energy long term policy, a challenge for S. American countries
Chile's impending energy crisis, sharpened by diplomatic tensions with Argentina and one of the coldest winters on record, was the theme of a seminar held last week in Valparaíso's Congress building. New Energy Minister Marcelo Tokman Ramos, Environment Minister Ana Lyn Uriarte and various members of Congress spoke at the event, which was titled “Energy Policy in Chile: A Challenge”.
In a country that currently imports 74 percent of its energy, the prospect that one of its principal suppliers -Argentina - may stop providing gas is a worrying one. And, "we have to say it like it is. Argentine gas is going to stop coming some day. We have to forget about it", said Dep. Francisco Encina at the seminar's opening. Many of the speakers urged that to deal with this reality Chile must figure out a way to supply its own energy, though not at the cost of destroying its environment. Minister Uriarte spoke of the importance of diversifying Chile's energy supply, and of making a gradual transition to "clean" and/or renewable energy sources such as wind, hydrothermal power and bio-gas. Tokman addressed what he viewed as the "necessity" of investigating the possibility of using nuclear energy. "There is a lot of misinformation and prejudice about the issue", he said. Speakers also examined the other side of the coin reducing energy demand. Minister Tokman pointed out that economic growth in Chile in the last 30 years has been mirrored "point for point" by growth in energy consumption. "But it doesn't have to be like that", he stressed. "In developed countries, that doesn't happen... energy-efficiency programs have been around for a long time in those countries". Tokman explained how his ministry plans to improve energy-efficienc y efforts with public education campaigns, more demanding industry standards, and assistance for lower-income families to invest in energy-efficient products. Uriarte acknowledged that behavioral changes, not solely technological solutions, would be required if Chile were to slash its energy consumption to a sustainable level. "It has to do with a lifestyle and consumption pattern very different from that which we are living at the moment", she said. Citizen participation, the catch-cry of current President Michelle Bachelet's government, was another key feature of the discussion. "This is an issue that should be of very great concern to all Chileans", said Tokman. "We all need to play a part in looking for solutions". Dep. Enrique Accorsi said the seminar itself was a "first step" to this end, but lamented that of the 3,000 invitees to the event, only a fraction were present. "In Chile, we are still not used to participating as citizens", he said. During a question and answer period (which due to time restrictions was cut from one-and-a-half hours to only half an hour), citizen disillusionment with the Government's action to this end was evident. Math teacher Sergio Donoso wanted to know if the Government's citizen participation agenda meant referendums would be used to decide on certain energy issues, but his question was not directly answered by any panelist. "It's nice to finally be inside Congress", said Concepción student association member Aníbal Meri. "Last time I was here with the students" association, for Bachelet's May 21 state-of-the-nation address, they kept us three blocks away from the building. Meri asked the energy minister whether the controversial Aysén dam project would go ahead. Tokman responded: "What I can say is that, looking at the next 10-15 years, the 2,400 megawatts the project would generate are going to be necessary. But whether we get those megawatts from that or another project remains to be seen". Only six citizens' questions were able to be heard in the time available, leaving many attendees frustrated. One man, after various attempts to get hold of a microphone, stood up and shouted: "I just want to know why, if we're talking about energy efficiency, we're sitting in this huge room in the middle of the day with all these spotlights and chandeliers". The man was immediately asked to leave. "The thing is, in Chile, politics and business are just too close, Meri told the Valparaíso Times as the conference closed. "So events like this are all very well, but citizens" opinions don't count for very much in the end". By Monica Evans The Santiago Times
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