El Salvador to host World Geothermal Ministerial Forum, 2nd half of 2022
Energy transition and the use of geothermal energy for emerging technologies are among the topics that will be addressed in the upcoming event in El Salvador
The Rio Lempa Hydroelectric Executive Commission (CEL) has announced that El Salvador will be hosting the World Geothermal Ministerial Forum for the first time. The event has no set date yet but is scheduled for the second half of 2022.
CEL President Daniel Alvarez has met with International Geothermal Association (IGA) Executive Director Marit Brommer and representatives of the Geothermal Alliance of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to discuss the preparations for the event.
El Salvador has gained a lot of attention recently because of their plans of putting up a geothermal-powered ‘Bitcoin City’ near the Conchangua volcano – announced by no less than President Nayib Bukele. However, El Salvador already has ample history on geothermal development and currently has more than 20% of the country’s power demand served by geothermal energy.
During the preparations meeting, Brommer commented that there are several geothermal countries interested in hearing about the experience of El Salvador in geothermal development and how green energy can give a boost to technological initiatives such as blockchain. Alvarez also shared El Salvador’s progress in reforms of laws in the national electricity sector.
In early 2022, El Salvador was reported to be in the process of implementing a new long-term national energy policy 2020 – 2050, which aims to reduce electricity tariffs in the country by prioritising renewables over fuel imports and facilitating the removal of subsidies from electricity towards the end of the policy period.
Source: Diario El Salvador