LatinNews Daily - 20 July 2023

* Ecuador’s mining and energy ministry has presented a three-phase roadmap and strategy to be fully implemented by 2030 for a “fair energy transition” involving the production of green hydrogen. The strategy was presented at an event in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, attended by the minister of mining and energy, Fernando Santos, deputy energy minister, Marcelo Jaramillo, diplomatic representatives from several countries, as well as authorities from the energy, academia and business sectors. In line with Ecuador’s social and environmental commitments to sustainable development, it was announced that this roadmap will focus on research, development and innovation, regulations, infrastructure, and international cooperation. The roadmap aims to reduce Ecuador’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20-25% by 2025 and contribute to limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C. Amongst other benefits of green hydrogen: the ammonia released as a by-product can be useful for making nitrogen-based fertilisers and methanol; improved implementation, reliability and quality of energy services; and energy production is forecast to increase by a factor of four by 2030 and seven by 2050. According to Santos, green hydrogen is a new form of energy that “is the future of humanity”.