Gustavo Petro Appoints Edwin Palma as New Energy Minister Amid Reshuffle
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro will appoint Edwin Palma as the new energy minister amid a cabinet reshuffle. Palma, a union leader, is tasked with advancing the country’s transition to renewable energy. This follows significant resignations within Petro’s government, including the former energy minister. The National Hydrocarbons Agency has announced interest from global companies in offshore wind energy development.
In a significant cabinet reshuffle, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro is set to appoint Edwin Palma, the former vice-minister of labor and a prominent unionist, as the nation’s new energy minister, according to sources within Petro’s office. This decision comes after Petro requested resignations from all cabinet ministers earlier this month and following a contentious televised meeting that saw resistance to two of his appointments.
The reshuffle has led to the replacement of nine key ministers, including the complete resignations of the interior and environmental ministers. The former energy minister, Andres Camacho, also tendered his resignation, prompting this reorganization within the government.
Edwin Palma, who previously led the major oil union USO and served on the board of Colombia’s state-run energy company Ecopetrol, will focus on advancing the nation’s transition from hydrocarbons, such as oil and coal, to renewable energy sources. This shift is a crucial element of President Petro’s policy agenda, although it has encountered significant challenges.
On the same day, Colombia’s National Hydrocarbons Agency announced that international companies have expressed interest in developing 69 offshore regions during the country’s inaugural offshore wind energy auction. This move aligns with the government’s goal of bolstering renewable energy initiatives.
Additional tensions within Petro’s cabinet have arisen, particularly following the resignation of former environment minister Susana Muhamad and others, triggered by Petro’s controversial appointment of Armando Benedetti as a senior adviser. Benedetti faces serious allegations, including violence against women and influence peddling, which he has categorically denied.
Despite the controversies, President Petro reaffirmed his support for Benedetti, who has been designated the new interior minister. Benedetti, previously serving as ambassador to Venezuela, has experienced significant scrutiny, along with Laura Sarabia, Petro’s close advisor, during ongoing investigations of alleged financial mismanagement and illegal activities.
The appointment of Edwin Palma as Colombia’s new energy minister signals a strategic shift in the nation’s energy policy, pushing towards renewable sources amid ongoing controversies surrounding Cabinet appointments. The government is striving to balance transitions in leadership with the ambitious goal of reducing reliance on fossil fuels, although the road ahead appears fraught with challenges.
Original Source: www.straitstimes.com
