ARPEL participated in the first regional edition of the "Climate Week," which took place August 20-23 in Montevideo, Uruguay.

The Association organized together with the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) a side-event focused on "Climate risks and adaptation: challenges and opportunities in the oil and gas sector,” where the Manager of ARPEL Climate Change Working Group Irene Alfaro gave a speech.

The Climate Change Working Group, created in 2015, aims to analyze the environment and improve the capacity of understanding of ARPEL member companies regarding the vulnerability, risks and opportunities arising from climate change as important elements for the strategic management of business sustainability.

Two major conclusions of experts are that while population growth will slow replacement of oil and gas by renewable energy sources, technological development continues growing rapidly, for which reason the sector should face the challenge of adapting to this process of global energy transition. They also highlighted the difficulties of access to preferential financing for the implementation of climate change and energy efficiency projects in the sector, despite the high impact they generate.

Meanwhile, a workshop on "Innovation and greenhouse gas emissions-mitigation technologies in the oil and gas sector” was also conducted with the support of OLADE. The workshop was attended by the coordinator of Innov@arpel, Tiphaine Le Moënner, who presented the new virtual platform created by ARPEL with the purpose of promoting interaction among technology solutions providers (universities, R&D centers, and the operating companies in the energy sector.

During the "2018 Climate Week,” the Executive Secretary of ARPEL, Izeusse Braga, and the Downstream Director and Manager of the Climate Change Working Group of ARPEL, Irene Alfaro, also participated in a discussion table with Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In the context of this important event, experts and executives of CUPET and Petroamazonas, both ARPEL member companies, visited the new headquarters of the Association located in the World Trade Center Montevideo Complex. During the meeting, representatives of both companies emphasized the importance of conducting more virtual trainings, exchanging experiences and strengthening the dialogue through Innov@arpel, as well as the role of ARPEL as a vehicle to generate strategic alliances or access to funding.