BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA– From March 13-17, 2023, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk traveled to Brazil, Chile, and Argentina to hold a series of dialogues with government, academia, energy associations, and industry representatives to deepen energy and climate collaboration between the United States and key South American partners. Deputy Secretary Turk emphasized the enormous opportunity for the Western Hemisphere to become a major exporter of clean energy fuels and technology. He also recognized the need to create and bolster supply chains critical to the global energy transition. The trip highlighted efforts by Chile and Argentina as founding members of Net Zero World (NZW)—an initiative led by DOE to partner with countries to implement their climate ambition pledges and accelerate transitions to net zero, resilient, and affordable energy systems. 

In Brazil, Deputy Secretary Turk met with the Secretary of Energy Planning and Transition Thiago Barral to discuss our bilateral engagement under the U.S.-Brazil Energy Forum (USBEF) and opportunities to enhance collaboration on carbon and methane management, nuclear power, renewable energy, and energy efficiency. Deputy Secretary Turk met with dozens of Brazilian companies advancing civil nuclear energy, sustainable aviation fuels, offshore wind, clean hydrogen, solar technologies, as well as transmission and energy storage. He has also visited the Technological Research Institute of São Paulo and met with representatives from academia and funding agencies cooperating with the United States on clean energy.  

In Chile, Deputy Secretary Turk met with the Minister of Energy Diego Pardow to discuss Chile’s progress under Net Zero World and deepening collaboration under hydrogen, critical minerals, and just transition. He also convened a roundtable with 30 companies in clean energy and critical minerals to discuss assisting these companies working in Argentina. Strengthening our commitment and multilateral ties to the region, Depth Secretary Turk presented remarks at the IEA workshop in Santiago convened to focus on the analysis of its World Energy Outlook on Latin America and Caribbean countries.  

In Argentina, Deputy Secretary Turk met with Secretary of Energy Flavia Royón and Secretary of Mining Fernanda Avila to discuss our ongoing partnership through Net Zero World and cooperation on methane abatement, hydrogen, renewable energy, and civil nuclear. The Deputy Secretary also met with the ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the director of the World Bank office in Argentina to discuss ongoing efforts and how to deepen future collaboration between the countries and companies in the region.