The upcoming II CPLP Energy Conference is set to take place on May 27 and 28 at the Estoril Congress Center in Portugal, where Mayra Pereira made insightful comments in an interview.
Mayra Pereira, president of ALER, emphasized the unique opportunity currently available for the Portuguese-speaking community to leverage its advantages, enhance cooperation, and establish partnerships among member states and entrepreneurs in the energy sector. This endeavor aims to support the energy transition and “act as a strategic bloc” in international summits and forums.
She highlighted the necessity for “extensive economic diplomacy, thematic alliances (…) and, above all, a common narrative that translates our priorities into concrete proposals,” allowing CPLP to position itself “as one of the viable alternatives” globally in energy, given it has “definite” conditions to do so.
“We have a significant advantage. Africa is undoubtedly a continent we must view as an opportunity, with most CPLP countries located there,” she noted. Furthermore, “Brazil stands as one of the major players in the G20 with strategic positioning that could open significant doors,” she added.
Moreover, Pereira pointed out, this year marks COP 30, hosted in Portugal-speaking Brazil, and Angola holds the presidency of the African Union, the largest regional organization. With the U.S. under the new policies of Donald Trump withdrawing as a financial player from Africa, “new players could emerge” attracted by the capabilities of each CPLP member state, she believes.
“At this moment, there is potential for CPLP countries to unite, to attract financing jointly,” assuming a “decidedly more unified stance when entering international forums,” she insisted.
In the business realm, ALER’s president envisions “enormous potential for joint ventures, consortia, joint business missions, and investments in renewable energy projects in CPLP sibling countries, transferring competencies,” within the CPLP sphere.
She also highlighted “opportunities in biofuels, green hydrogen, and hybrid functions like gas and solar, which some countries are beginning to explore,” alongside “collaborations with local companies in each country to create a green value chain.”
This week’s conference will include ministers and other high-level representatives from CPLP countries, alongside other energy sector stakeholders, such as COP 30 representatives and Mission 300, one of the largest forthcoming financial vehicles.
Anticipating the conference, Pereira, who specializes in renewable energy, environment, and sustainability, expects “more knowledge sharing on resource management” and discussions on “expanding transition funds and debt swap agreements to other CPLP countries.”
According to CPLP, the II Energy Conference not only serves as “a moment to share the latest developments and anchor projects of each Member State’s energy transitions,” but also aims to foster new partnerships and investment and financing opportunities under the theme “Driving a Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Energy Transition for the CPLP.”
Topics under discussion will include public policies for energy transition, energy planning, fuel diversification, future electric systems, decarbonization, and green economy, energy compacts, financing, and investments in the sector.
Organized by the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe, holding the current presidency of CPLP, the conference will be coordinated by ALER and the Association of Energy Regulators of Portuguese Language Countries (RELOP), with additional support from Portugal’s Ministry of Environment and Energy.
