The Venezuelan Vice President emphasizes the importance of ensuring access to energy in the Global South.

On Wednesday, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez participated in the Ninth International Seminar of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), held in Vienna.

RELATED:

OPEC Holds Landmark Energy Seminar in Vienna

The opening ceremony was led by OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais under the theme “Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Energy Future,” which focuses on collective efforts to shape the future of global energy. After arriving at the event venue, Rodriguez toured the forum’s exhibition area, which included a stand representing Venezuela’s state-owned oil and gas company PDVSA.

She emphasized that her country is taking part in the OPEC seminar to engage in open dialogue on the energy trilemma — the challenge of balancing three key objectives in the energy sector: supply security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.

“We cannot talk about investment, security and accessibility if we cannot ensure that people around the world, especially in the Global South, have safe access to energy,” Rodriguez said. She pointed to the recent floods in Texas and their tragic consequences as an example of the lack of timely investment to address the global climate emergency.

“The energy transition must be balanced. Today we know that the US$2.2 trillion investments needed in renewable energy do not guarantee zero carbon emissions by 2050,” she said. “If there is no responsible balance — one that avoids unrealistic positions — we are putting the energy trilemma at risk.”

“Economic aggressions against energy-producing countries should not hinder investment either,” Rodriguez warned, making an implicit reference to U.S. sanctions imposed on countries such as Venezuela, Iran, and Russia.

Also on Wednesday, the Bolivarian vice president held a meeting with His Royal Highness Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy, with whom she discussed matters related to cooperation among OPEC+ members. “We highlighted the unity and cohesion of our organization and the functioning of the OPEC+ agreement in pursuit of international energy balance,” she said.

As a founding member of OPEC, Venezuela has played a historic role in promoting energy consensus and stabilizing the oil market. Its participation in this seminar represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen multilateral cooperation and share experiences in energy policymaking.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Venezuela News

IN THIS ARTICLE