SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – 7 October 2026 — H.E. Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (#GECF), held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Andrés Rebolledo Smitmans, Executive Secretary of the Organization of Latin American Energy Development (#OLACDE), on the sidelines of the XI Energy Week and the LVI Meeting of Ministers of OLACDE in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. H.E. Dr. Mshelbila was accompanied by Mr. Imran Mohammed of the GECF’s Gas Market Analysis Department.
H.E. Rebolledo Smitmans was joined by a delegation including Ms. Mijal Brady, Chief of Staff; Mr. Fitzgerald Cantero, Director of Studies, Projects and Information; and Mr. Ivo Nacucchio, Consultant in Data and Energy Systems modelling.
The meeting provided the platform to discuss developments in the #gas and #energy markets of the region, with a particular focus on the growing role of natural gas in achieving secure, affordable, and #sustainable energy transitions.
H.E. Dr. Mshelbila commended OLACDE for its active engagement in regional energy #dialogues and outlined the latest insights and publications from the GECF, specifically regarding the Latin America and Caribbean region. He highlighted the role of natural gas as an abundant, clean, and reliable #fuel to address the global energy trilemma, while emphasizing its vital role as a partner to #renewables, which features prominently in the region's energy mix.
For his part, H.E. Rebolledo Smitmans shared OLACDE’s energy priorities, ongoing projects, and strategic vision for enhancing energy security and infrastructure development within Latin America and the Caribbean.
Both sides explored potential avenues for #cooperation between the GECF and OLACDE, emphasizing the importance of institutional capacity building, exchange of technical expertise, data transparency, and promoting the environmental credentials of natural gas.
The meeting concluded with both organisations agreeing to maintain close communication and further strengthen technical and research collaborative ties in support of sustainable energy futures for gas-producing and consuming nations alike.