European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, visited Chile on July 1-2 to strengthen cooperation in the green transition and renewable energies, within the framework of the ratification of the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and Chile. The visit highlighted the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes investments in infrastructure, green energy, education, and research.
Simson met with Minister of Energy Diego Pardow and CORFO Executive Vice President José Miguel Benavente to deepen energy cooperation, particularly in renewable hydrogen. “We want to maintain this strong connection with Chile through our Global Gateway investment agenda, where hydrogen is a priority area,” Simson noted. She emphasized the importance of the Team Europe Initiative for the development of renewable hydrogen, a key element in this collaboration.
She participated in meetings with public and private sector representatives, addressing best practices and lessons learned in the development of the green hydrogen market. At the CEPAL headquarters in Santiago, proposals to promote the use of renewable hydrogen in the region were discussed during a panel titled “Navigating the Just Energy Transition: Green Hydrogen as a Catalyst for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean.”
In a meeting with Foreign Minister Alberto Van Klaveren, opportunities for energy collaboration and the progress of the Advanced Framework Agreement were explored. Van Klaveren expressed hope to soon ratify the agreement to continue strengthening cooperation in renewable energies and green hydrogen.
Simson concluded her visit with a tour of Viña Santa Ema, winner of the “Ponle Energía a tu Empresa” contest, co-financed by the EU, which enabled the installation of solar panels, highlighting international cooperation in developing green opportunities for the business sector.
Simson’s visit underscores the joint commitment of the EU and Chile to transition to renewable energies and establish renewable hydrogen as a key component for sustainable development.
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Image Credit: EU Delegation in Chile