Webinar

February 29, 2024

The recording of this webinar will soon be available. If you have any questions, please contact Steena Williams at [email protected].

The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) roadmap outlines ways to improve regional electricity access in the Legal Amazon. While access to electricity is a pressing issue in the region, it is viewed as a means to an end rather than the ultimate goal for local development. As such, the roadmap focuses on the electricity sector and its intersections with other policies and sectors. Brazil boasts considerable experience in electricity access policy, notably with the Luz para Todos (LpT) program launched in 2003. Yet, challenges persist in achieving universal access with adequate quality. The roadmap delves into issues such as centralized system planning, hindering the development of microgrids, as well as the distance, isolation and small scale of communities. It also highlights the necessity of building local supply chains, adapting regulatory frameworks and clarifying interactions with other policy goals and instruments. There are also opportunities on the horizon. These include the favorable environment created by the new Brazilian government and various initiatives in the region such as conservation plans, the resurgence of the Amazon fund and the establishment of a new ministry for indigenous peoples. Moreover, there is potential in pursuing policy convergence, particularly in developing local supply chains, and in modernizing the power sector, with the Legal Amazon region serving as a testing ground for regulatory innovations.

This webinar launched RAP’s Roadmap for Electricity Access as a Development Driver in the Legal Amazon. A presentation of the roadmap was given by co-author Alejandro Hernandez.