The Energy Department is providing some funding to implement the recommendations in the report. The Roadmap was presented by Secretary Richardson at the Hemispheric Ministers Conference in New Orleans, a follow up to 1994's Summit of the Americas. Ministers and their representatives from 34 nations attended the fourth meeting of Energy Ministers from this hemisphere. The final Roadmap document will be released in English and Spanish and distributed to Central American government officials, the international donor community and the private sector. By integrating the energy sector, a larger regional market of 35 million people will attract new investments that can support development of region-wide projects.
Diversity also promotes competition between energy suppliers, which keeps prices lower.
By working with national governments and the private sector, the Roadmap outlines the importance of formulating national policies that provide electricity to those who currently lack it, especially the poor. The four countries struck by Hurricane Mitch face the likelihood of future hurricanes, and are vulnerable to other natural disasters. The Roadmap recommends the preparation of vulnerability studies of the energy sector in each country to help develop emergency preparedness and contingency plans. Visit our contact page to find the appropriate resource.