The Latin American and Caribbean Energy Organization (OLACDE) took part in the Fifth International Biofuels Conference, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, an event that brought together companies from the production chain, technology developers, industrial suppliers, investors, national authorities, and representatives of the regional agroindustry.
During the event, OLACDE’s Executive Secretary, Andrés Rebolledo, reaffirmed that biofuels are essential to decarbonizing energy demand in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in the transport sector, which is responsible for more than 40% of the region’s emissions.
“Today, biofuels carry a weight equivalent to that of solar and wind energy in the primary energy supply. Continuing their development is key to moving the climate needle in sectors that are hard to electrify,” said Rebolledo.
OLACDE stressed that the region already produces 27% of global biofuel output and has comparative advantages such as abundant resources, technical expertise, and favorable regulatory frameworks.
The organization also warned that achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 will require tripling current production, raising the share of biofuels in the primary energy matrix from 4% to 11%. To achieve this, it will be essential to design tailored public policies, increase financing, and strengthen regional cooperation.
The conference is establishing itself as a strategic forum for driving new sustainable agroindustries and accelerating the energy transition in Latin America and the Caribbean.