Energy experts in the Caribbean and beyond, policymakers and the private sector representative, are among officials heading to Belize next week for the sixth edition of the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF).
The Forum will be held in Placencia, 18-21 November, under the theme ‘Clean Energy, Good Governance & Regulations’.
The CSEF VI is being co-hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat and the Government of Belize, in partnership with the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) and the Organisation of Caribbean Utility Regulators (OOCUR). Key sponsorship and technical support for the staging of the CSEF VI will be provided by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Technical Assistance Programme for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (TAPSEC), which is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ); the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE); the Organisation of American States (OAS); the Public Utilities Commission (PUC); Belize Electricity Limited; and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF).
The Forum is one of the premier events that is being held during CARICOM Energy Month. A CARICOM biennial event, CSEF provides the opportunity for key stakeholders to take stock of the current state and realign their outlook on the pursuit of a sustainable energy pathway within the Region.
CSEF-VI will focus on the development of a deeper understanding on the “right” support frameworks and partnerships that are necessary to unlock the finances to deliver affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for citizens and businesses within CARICOM.
This year, more than 100 participants are expected at the Forum which formally opens on the evening of 18 November at the Placencia Hotel.
From thereon, keynote lectures, as well plenary, concurrent and special sessions, including a High-level Ministerial Panel 19-20 November, will be held. The High-level Ministerial Panel will focus on key areas of Regional Energy Security and Climate Resilience. Ministers and High Level Government Officials with responsibility for energy in Barbados, Belize, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago are on the panel.
Climate change and resilience will be the focus of several other panels. Those discussions will be framed in the context of geopolitics and governance; the unprecedented challenges associated with climate, energy and disaster risks; and identifying what needs to be done to achieve regional energy security and climate resilience.
Apart from government ministers, the line-up of forum speakers includes heads of CARICOM Institution, high level CARICOM Secretariat officials, international partners in the field of energy, regional regulatory specialists, academia and communications specialists.
The other topics the panels and special sessions will cover include the role of CCREEE in envisioning the acceleration of a clean energy marketing development in CARICOM; reducing the implementation deficit; island-appropriate clean energy development, making the Caribbean climate-smart and the clean energy transition in CARICOM. The two concurrent technical workshops to be held on 21 November will address Utility Business models and Innovation in rate making and Implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in the Energy and Transport Sectors. A field visit is also planned.