The Inter-American Development Bank has announced approval of a US$400,000 grant from its Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) for technical studies that will help implement a program to produce and promote biofuels in Guatemala. The project includes macroeconomic, fiscal, agricultural, social and environmental studies that will help devise a solid framework for Guatemala’s production of biofuels. The resources will also strengthen institutions and help train key public and private participants, as well as members of civil society, in implementing legislative mandates on domestic use of biofuels.
Guatemala currently imports all fuels used in productive activities. The program will help diversify the country’s energy matrix and reduce its dependence on biofuel imports. It will also stimulate socioeconomic development in rural areas of the country.
“This grant will help ensure that the National Biofuels Program is comprehensive and sustainable, from an economical standpoint as well as socially and environmentally,” said Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho, one of the IDB team leaders.
The program will be executed by Guatemala’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).
SECCI was launched in November 2006 with an initial IDB contribution of $20 million. In addition, it has received a $2.8 million contribution from the United Kingdom.
The initiative will foster increased investments in development of biofuels, renewable energy, energy efficiency, carbon financing and a broad array of sustainable energy options. In certain cases, the fund will also finance initiatives to reduce vulnerability and adapt sector policies and programs on climate change in the region, said SECCI coordinator Juan Pablo Bonilla.
Institutions eligible for SECCI funding include government ministries, national climate change authorities, planning agencies, government-owned and private corporations, regional and municipal governments, private project developers, nongovernmental organizations, and academic and research institutions.
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