Latin America and the Caribbean do not have to choose between energy evolution and energy security

Ms Luz Stella Murgas, the International Gas Union’s (IGU) Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, took part yesterday, 6 October 2026, in the Plenary Session of OLACDE’s XI Energy Week taking place in the Dominican Republic.

Focussed on “Regional Energy Integration”, the opening session of this landmark 4-day regional event provided Ms Murgas with an opportunity to once again reiterate IGU’s position that Latin America and the Caribbean do not have to choose between energy evolution and energy security.

Ms Murgas argued that “the real challenge is to advance both at the same time, and that is where natural gas has a strategic role to play.”

In this context, natural gas provides something essential: flexibility and backup, and the same message and evidence permeate throughout the recently launched Opportunities for the Development of Gas in Latin America and the Caribbean report released by IGU, ARPEL and OLACDE, highlighting natural gas’ complementarity for renewables and a stable base load during periods of water stress in the region.

Ms Murgas further argued that the “[…] region has a relatively clean energy mix, a high share of hydropower, and enormous solar and wind potential. However, it also faces climate challenges, droughts associated with phenomena such as El Niño and greater intermittency in power generation.

Brazil is a clear example: during the severe 2021 drought, natural gas-fired power generation had to nearly double to preserve the stability of the system. In addition, natural gas can accelerate emissions reductions in countries that still depend on more carbon-intensive fuels.

There is also a third element: security of supply. Latin America and the Caribbean hold approximately 500 Tcf of natural gas resources enough, at current consumption levels, for nearly seven decades of regional supply. Yet the region accounted for only around 5% of global Gas production in 2024.”