By Kurt Campbell
A longstanding defender of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), former President of Colombia, Ivan Duque now holds himself out as a preacher for the country’s vision as a new oil producer, believing that Guyana can most definitely develop an energy transition model that the world can rally around.
Duque is a featured speaker on the opening day of the 2023 International Energy Conference in Georgetown and intends to not only share insights on Colombia’s energy transition efforts but also to send a strong message of support for the exploitation of oil and gas resources, while at the same time, accelerating the transition to non-conventional and renewal energy.
In fact, he believes Guyana is presented with a historic opportunity to develop a model and prove to the world that conservation and non-conventional renewables do not need to be in opposition to oil and gas development.
“Guyana has the resources…it can show the world that the oil and gas richness of the underground can be used positively to eradicate poverty on the ground.
“I am here to share with the Guyanese government that they and the country can become a leader in conservation, net zero, non-conventional renewables and also a country that knows how to exploit oil and gas to provide for nation,” he told the News Room in an exclusive interview on Monday at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown.
Notwithstanding, he observed that the challenge is now for Guyana to develop a diversified energy matrix; Guyana is doing just that and is well on its way to reducing its dependency on fossil fuels for energy generation by developing solar, wind, hydro and gas sources for energy.
Colombia has been slowly building its clean energy policy since 2014 but that was accelerated under Duque’s leadership (2018 – 2022).
With Colombia also facing criticism over its renewed push under President Gustavo Petro to leave fossil fuel extraction behind, Duque said those criticisms do not make sense.
He says too that Guyana possesses great potential to become a regional net exporter of energy and urged regional countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to support the possibility of Guyana becoming a superpower for the region.
“Guyana can become a reference model of developing countries to do both things and do it well,” the former Colombian leader asserted.
Asked why he was so sure the model could work, Duque referenced Canada and said if it doesn’t work then “Guyana will be losing the most important historic opportunity for the county.”
“Politics have to be put aside. This is a historic opportunity for Guyana…I respect the vision of the government and the President.
“We have to all contribute to making Guyana shine in the world, in the international arena and ensure that investments and opportunities are brought here. I am optimistic.”
He observed that there is a risk that things can go wrong but says the country needs to stay focused on the fast acceleration of projects.
“I am not a lobbyist but I see myself more as a sustainability preacher to tell the world what’s happening in Guyana is a great opportunity. It puts in the balance,” he added.
