This internationally respected program focuses exclusively on energy issues affecting the Western Hemisphere: Supply, demand, project development, and energy security.
Jeremy Martin
Program Director
The Institute organizes energy conferences and seminars throughout the hemisphere that convene hundreds of energy specialists in the public and private sector to debate policy. Our ability to bring together business leaders and government officials for candid conversations is increasingly important as the world turns its attention to the issues surrounding energy resources in Latin America.
The program promotes dialogue aimed at developing sound public policies, enhanced regional integration and clear rules regarding private investment. To achieve this, the Institute’s expert team works closely with policy-makers, investors, project managers and multilateral financial institutions that are major sources of funding for energy projects.
FOCUS AREAS
Annual Latin American Energy Conference
Known as The La Jolla Conference , this is Latin America’s largest energy conference. The annual forum, hosted by the Institute for the past 18 years, convenes energy ministers of major Latin American countries, company CEOs and regulatory officials to discuss new projects, regional agreements, changes in regulations and new investment opportunities.
Hemispheric Energy Policy and Security
 This forum convenes U.S. government officials, company representatives from across the hemisphere, multilateral agencies and foreign diplomats to discuss current policies and actions, as well as ways to enhance energy cooperation in the hemisphere. Panels assess implications of regional agreements, congressional energy initiatives, the role of National Oil Companies (NOC's), regional supply and integration, and the impact of policies and strategies in Latin America on
energy security.
Energy Regulation and New Projects in Specific Countries
 The Institute is renowned for its private, executive roundtables. These closed-door sessions encourage candid dialogue aimed at promoting sound public policies and decision-making. Our roundtables focus on Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Central America and the Andean region.
Training
 Drawing on the Institute’s energy expertise, training seminars for Spanish-language journalists, academics and legislative aides offer participants an opportunity to exchange ideas with leading figures in Latin American and global energy fields. Lectures cover global energy, the Latin American energy scene, alternative and new energy sources and hemispheric energy security with the goal of explaining the intricacies of this economically vital sector and enhancing accurate and thorough coverage.
“We have found the Institute of the Americas to be the most respected
well-connected and best informed organization in dealing with Latin American issues.I would highly recommend that any company that has business dealings in Latin America become a member of the Steering Group and enjoy the full benefits that the Institute can provide.”
- Darcel Hulse, President, Sempra LNG
“As an Energy Steering Group member, Ernst & Young is pleased to work with outstanding leaders and staff at the Institute of the Americas that are responsive to our needs. In addition, we are pleased to have the opportunity to network with high-level industry professionals on the Steering Group and important representatives from key energy-related companies at events that contribute to Ernst & Young’s visibility and leadership position in
the region.”
- Enrique Grotz, Head of Latin America Energy, Ernst & Young Argentina | |  Energy integration efforts struggle in Latin America 11 June 2009 (Platts Oilgram News) Increasing production of renewable energy and tying it—as well as more traditional energy projects such as natural gas pipelines—together throughout Latin America face economic and political stumbling blocks, representatives of multilateral organizations said June 9.
"A sense of caution has replaced the euphoria we were seeing two years ago" about renewable energy including wind, solar and biofuels, Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Moreno said at a conference on energy in the western hemisphere organized by the Institute of the Americas.
The global economic crisis and weak oil and other fuel prices have caused some Latin American countries to pull back on politically unpopular or expensive energy initiatives. Still, Moreno said some projections show Latin America could see $1.3 trillion in both private and state investment in the energy sector over the next 20 years.
Many projects—whether flowing gas through international pipelines or moving solar or wind energy between countries on interconnected electrical grids—have stalled, Moreno said.
Andean Development Corporation Executive Vice President Luis Berrizbeitia agreed, saying "broad-based integration processes have become weaker in the past few years" in Latin America.
He noted that several gas pipeline projects between countries have been replaced by national LNG terminals, which allow countries to bring in gas supplies from numerous producers and support security of supply.
Argentina, Brazil and Chile are among the countries that have looked to LNG in the face of unreliable gas supply from Bolivia, where political instability has led to a decline in new investments in gas production.
Jeffrey Davidow, president of the Institute of the Americas, said politics and not technical issues are still the main barriers to integration. While he noted that Colombia and Venezuela have had some success in integrating gas pipelines and electrical grids are coming together in Central America, the overall results are still poor.
Colombia's ambassador to the US, Carolina Barco, however, insisted that her country is still pushing to connect with its neighbors through new gas and coal opportunities, the integration of biofuel production, the possibility of gas pipelines toward its Pacific coast and investment in hydropower projects.
BP's Hayward to receive Energy Innovator Award  The Institute of the Americas is proud to annouce that Dr. Tony Hayward, Chief Executive Officer of BP p.l.c ., will be honored with the Energy Innovator Award on May 13 at the annual La Jolla Conference Hayward is the first recipient of the prestigious Institute of the Americas award, which recognizes his leadership in calling for technology investment to achieve greater energy efficiency and for working to bring new energy sources to market. His efforts to respond to the world's growing need for energy despite the volatility caused by the global crisis will be highlighted.
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Martin talks about energy boom-bust at Caracas forum  The IOA Energy Program Director Jeremy Martin described the energy industry's boom-bust cycle during an April 20-23 forum in Caracas, Venezuela.
The forum, which was organized by the Office of Public Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Venezuela, focused on the geopolitics of energy and energy security in the United States and Latin America.
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Summit of the Americas and Energy Security  IOA Energy Program Director Jeremy Martin writes that the Summit of the Americas should focus the Hemisphere's energy policy agenda on four goals: a free-market approach to ethanol; improved energy standards for buildings, autos and appliances; addressing the debate over nuclear energy; and streamlining regulatory, legal and fiscal regimes. To read his commentary published in the April 15 edition of World Politics Review, click here
Pemex Bets Billions on Geologically Complex Chicontepec Field
Read article (Page 4)
Quotes Jeremy Martin
Skeptics & Pessimists: Mexico’s Energy Reform & Implementation  2008 was a bad year for PEMEX, but the future holds promise for the company, according to Director General Jesus Reyes Heroles, who spoke at the Institute of the Americas energy roundtable in Mexico City on February 3.
For Reyes Heroles the ‘bad’ was precipitated by the significant decline of the country’s oil production, particularly at the massive Cantarell field: 2008 saw oil production drop 9% to a 13 year low.
Reyes Heroles was quick to state that 2009 provided PEMEX and Mexico’s oil outlook with a proverbial new leaf. In speaking of the opportunity that the reform measures afford PEMEX, he emphasized that he prefers the current ‘day after tomorrow’ from the alternative of no reform which he noted was a real possibility as the debate dragged on last year.
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Chávez Reopens
Oil Bids to West as Prices Plunge  As falling oil prices threaten the social welfare programs that have bolstered President Hugo Chávez's popular support, senior officials in his government are quietly courting Western companies to boost purchases of Venezuelan petroleum, The New York Times reported.
In recent weeks, Venezuelan officials have solicited bids from some of the largest Western oil companies, including Chevron, Royal Dutch/Shell and Total of France and promised them access to some of the world's largest petroleum reserves. "If re-engaging with foreign oil companies is necessary to his political survival, then Chávez will do it," said Roger Tissot, an authority on Venezuela's oil industry who is a visiting energy fellow at the Institute of the Americas. To read the complete story by New York Times correspondent Simon Romero, click here
Energy in the Americas: The Next 25 Years - Read Summary
Central America Energy: Renewables, Integration and Investment Read Summary
US presidential election and its relevance for Latin America IOA energy program director Jeremy Martin and energy fellow Roger Tissot look at the historic US presidential election and its relevance for Latin America and the region’s energy sector. To read their article in the San Diego Union Tribune
click here
China sneezes, Latin America catches a cold 
IOA energy expert Jeremy Martin and energy analyst Roger Tissot explain the impact of an economic slowdown in China on Latin America's exports and energy sector. To read their article in Latin Business Chronicle,
click here
Energy Specialist Joins IOA Program
 Roger Tissot, an internationally renowned energy analyst, is joining the Institute of the Americas as a Visiting Energy Fellow. He will write policy papers and articles for the Institute, participate as a speaker in Institute programs, and work with the Energy Program on its conferences and roundtables.
For almost 15 years, Roger has focused his research on Latin American economic, political and energy issues, most recently as a director at Washington, DC-based PFC Energy. He also spent several years in Latin America with EnCana Corporation. Roger holds an M.A. in Economics from the University of Laval (Quebec) and an M.B.A. from the University of Calgary. He lives in Canada and can be reached at:
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