Update on Activities
·
US
Hydropower to Sponsor Latin American Participant to COP
·
US
Hydropower brings on Latin America Consultant
·
US
Hydropower Identifies Opportunities in Brazil
·
Update
on Small Hydropower Development Opportunities in Guatemala
·
US
Hydropower Conducts Meetings in Guatemala and Mexico
Upcoming India Meetings
US Hydropower
has been working with the USAID India Mission to establish a three year program
for hydropower in India. After months of effort, the agreement has been
put in place. We will be meeting with USAID to discuss potential program
activities and outline priorities for the coming months. US Hydropower is
planning a visit October 24-30 to meet with USAID in Delhi, and state officials
on opportunities for rehabilitation and Greenfield projects in Himachal Pradesh. Meetings will be held with state
irrigation departments, state electricity boards, and state regulatory boards
regarding key policy issues and finance barriers on near term projects. We
encourage members already involved or those who are interested in the India
marketplace to attend these meetings with us. If your company is interested in
the Indian market, please contact us to see how US Hydropower’s program can help.
US Hydropower to Sponsor
a Latin American Participant to COP in Montreal, December 2005
US Hydropower
has been working with the Canadian Hydropower Association, National Hydropower
Association, and International Hydropower Association to define key messages
and a strategy to promote hydropower during the first Meeting of the Parties
(MoP1) to the Kyoto Protocol. The meeting will take place in Montreal,
Canada where there will be discussion of a proposed emissions trading program.
Ensuring that energy policymakers whose countries will need to rely on
hydropower to meet sustainable development goals participate in this process is
critical. US Hydropower has taken on the commitment to ensure that Latin
America is represented. The talks will include hydropower’s role in the
trading scheme and the industry wants to be sure that the benefits of
hydropower are part of this discussion. In support of this effort, US
Hydropower is working with its membership to discuss activities of current
carbon funds and proposed models for an international trading
program. Carbon trading was a major area of interest at US
Hydropower’s finance forum in April. US Hydropower will also call
on finance community experts to comment on this topic.
US Hydropower brings on
Latin America Consultant
US Hydropower
has hired Jorge Manrique to assist with Latin America
program activities. Mr. Manrique comes to us
with experience working with international private projects and several years
working for PG&E in San Francisco. Mr. Manrique,
a native of Peru, will be based in Guatemala. US Hydropower currently has
active programs in Guatemala and Mexico.
US Hydropower Identifies
Opportunities in Brazil
US Hydropower
has been working to partner several opportunities in the Brazilian
marketplace. Currently, US Hydropower is working to partner several new
and rehabilitation projects in Brazil, and is planning industry visits to
explore market potential for our companies. We encourage members
interested in looking at these opportunities to contact us.
Update on Small Hydropower Development Opportunities in Guatemala
US Hydropower
traveled to Guatemala at the beginning of August 2005 and met with Anacafe (national coffee growers’ association) and
representatives from INDE, the national utility, on August 3, 2005 to discuss
options for collaboration in the development of Anacafe’s
small hydropower program. DOE and USAID representatives also participated
at that meeting. US Hydropower offered its support to the Anacafe
program. INDE has since decided to set up a national program for
development of small hydropower in Guatemala.
Guatemala’s
potential for small hydropower is estimated at 5,000 MWs.
INDE and the Guatemalan government have committed themselves to developing a
minimum of 300 MW in the first two years of this program and 1,000 MWs within the next five years. INDE has also set a
short term objective of developing two small hydroelectric projects which will
be used as showcase models.
INDE
drafted the main components for the national hydro program and formed the
following three task forces: Task Force 1: to organize and bring up to
date Information on small hydroelectric projects considered by INDE in past
years; Task Force 2: to develop general information needed to
identify specific hydroelectric projects and to perform screening of potential
sites, as well as prepare a list of potential sites to be presented for
investment to private entities; and Task Force 3: to prepare a guide for
potential developers of small hydroelectric projects.
The
Guatemalan government has committed to include the municipalities in the
development of small hydropower sites. This policy was stated by the president
of Guatemala at a national conference organized to kick off the small
hydropower program. The municipalities recognize the potential benefits
of developing small hydropower projects and are now organizing to participate.
By
participating in the small hydropower program in Guatemala, US Hydropower
members have a great opportunity to participate as investors and to get access
to information on products and services to be required for the development of
the many hydro projects that will be part of this program.
US Hydropower Conducts
Meetings in Mexico and Guatemala
A US Hydropower
delegation visited Mexico July 31-August 6 and included US Hydropower staff and
Karin Berry and Cyndy Wilson from the US Department
of Energy. The delegation conducted meetings with CONAE, the energy
ministry, Banamex, CFE and USAID. US Hydropower
members are working on several efforts in Mexico, including Greenfield and
rehabilitation projects. CFE will be rehabilitating several sites, and US
Hydropower is working with Export Credit Agencies and decisionmakers
at the Mexican utility to promote US Hydropower member technology and know
how. US Hydropower is working with the USAID Mexico mission on
development of a hydropower program in Mexico. So far the states of
Chiapas and Veracruz have been defined as priority
states for a hydropower program by the mission.
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Please check our website for up to date information on program and lobbying activities at www.us-hydropower.org Your comments or requests for more information are welcome. Please contact US Hydropower’s Director of Trade Promotion, Debby Stone at 202.383.2536 or by Email: debbys@us-hydropower.org
Debby Stone
US Hydropower
Council for International Development
1500 K Street NW #330
Washington, DC 20002
Tel:
202.383.2536
Fax:
202.408.5406