World Energy Council Argentina: First Committee Meeting in Mendoza

ARGENTINA’S WORLD ENERGY COUNCIL COMMITTEE HOLDS ITS FIRST MEETING IN MENDOZA

Organised by World Energy Council Argentina (Comité Argentino del consejo mundial de la energía, CACME)

On Wednesday, 16 July 2025.

CACME selected Mendoza as the venue for its Board of Directors meeting, hosted by the Mendoza Energy Company (Emesa). “This visit reaffirms the need for a federal perspective to understand the country's energy reality,” stated the Minister of Energy and Environment, Jimena Latorre.

To promote a federal approach to Argentina’s energy challenges and opportunities, the Board of Directors of the Argentine Committee of the World Energy Council (CACME) chose Mendoza as the location for its latest meeting.

The gathering, held at the offices of the Mendoza Energy Company (Emesa), was opened by Minister of Energy and Environment Jimena Latorre, who stressed the importance of decentralising the national energy agenda.

“This visit reaffirms the need for a federal perspective to understand the country’s energy reality. Emesa is the executive arm of Mendoza’s energy policy, and having a strong company with innovative projects and financial stability allows us to move strategically towards a real and sustainable energy transition,” she said.

The meeting brought together Ignacio Millán, President of CACME and YPF representative; Graciela Misa, Secretary from EDET; Gustavo Rodríguez and Jorge Vugdelija, members of the Audit Committee; Federico Mancuso, Manager of Downstream Public Affairs at YPF; Juan José Mitjans, CACME Executive Director; and Mendoza-based representatives Mauricio Pinti Clop, Emesa General Manager and full member of CACME, and Gerardo Rabinovich, Emesa President and alternate member of CACME.

As part of the day’s agenda, Emesa Director and former National Secretary of Energy, Daniel Montamat, delivered a keynote titled “Key Trends in the Future of Energy”, offering a strategic overview of the national energy matrix, the transition to clean sources, and the need for infrastructure investment to enable energy exports.

The Board of Directors meeting then addressed updates from the World Energy Council (WEC), news from the Future Energy Leaders Programme (FELP), and membership matters within the Committee.

“It is a great honour for CACME to hold its first-ever session in Mendoza,” stated Pinti Clop. “This visit helps highlight the technical work and sustainable projects promoted by Emesa and strengthens strategic dialogue among the sector’s key players.”

The role of infrastructure in the energy transition:

During the meeting, Minister Latorre underscored one of the region’s main challenges: the need for energy transmission infrastructure to make energy generation and international trade feasible.

“One of the biggest bottlenecks in Latin America—and in Argentina—is the lack of infrastructure to evacuate generated energy. We may have vast resources, but without transmission lines and integrated systems, we won’t be able to harness them. Mendoza is working hard to change that,” she noted.

A prime example is the Cruz de Piedra High Voltage Line, commissioned in 2024 to enhance reliability across the Cuyo region. This 22-kilometre, dual 220 kV transmission line adds stability to the grid and enables large-scale investments in clean energy—such as solar—thanks to reliable transmission infrastructure.

Latorre also referenced upcoming bids for hydroelectric concessions in Mendoza and the importance of continuing to promote private investment in renewables, particularly solar PV, as part of the province’s structural energy transition.

An international outlook from CACME:

Ignacio Millán, President of CACME, praised the province’s energy potential and diversity of sources: “Mendoza offers a very compelling energy model, with thermal and renewable generation, a refinery, and mature oil fields. Its contribution to the national matrix is essential. At CACME, we are eager to project this vision globally.”

Millán also confirmed CACME’s participation in World Energy Week Panama 2025 and stressed the importance of a strong Argentine presence at the 2026 World Energy Congress in Rio de Janeiro.

About CACME:

The Argentine Committee of the World Energy Council (CACME) serves as a bridge between the WEC and key organisations and professionals in Argentina’s energy sector. Its mission is to promote an affordable, stable, and environmentally sustainable energy system with both a global and federal outlook.

The CACME Board of Directors includes representatives from YPF, Emesa, EDET, Pan American Energy, Pampa Energía, Tecpetrol, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina, San Jorge Petroleum, EPES Córdoba, Oldelval, BC Desarrollos Energéticos, among others.