Declaration of Margarita
Building the Energy Integration of the South

We, the Heads of State and of Government of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Suriname and Venezuela, gathered on April 17, 2007, in the city of Porlamar, Nueva Esparta State of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, agree, in keeping with the conclusions and recommendations presented by our Ministers of Energy during their Second Meeting, to:

RATIFY the guiding principles of regional energy integration set forth in the Declaration of the First Meeting of Ministers of Energy of the South American Community of Nations, of September 26, 2005, in Caracas, Venezuela; and in the Presidential Declaration on South American Energy Integration, signed on December 9, 2006 in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

UNDERSCORE that the energy integration of the South American Community of Nations should be used as an important tool to promote social and economic development and eradicate poverty.  In this connection, we reiterate the commitment to universalize access to energy as a right of all citizens.   

STRENGTHEN existing relations among the member countries of the South American Community of Nations on the basis of the sustainable use of their energy resources and potential, thereby taking advantage of economic complementarities to reduce asymmetries in the region and to move toward South American unity.    

RECOGNIZE that the State, society and energy enterprises are the key actors in the energy integration process, in such a way that a balance is achieved between the interests of the countries, the needs of the people and the efficiency of the sector.

PROMOTE the development and expansion of the region’s energy integration infrastructure through joint investments for the primary purpose of ensuring that the resources of the producer countries reach the entire South American region and contribute to equity and social justice.

WORK toward the systematizing and evaluation of the South American energy balance in order to project a regional energy matrix, identify options for energy integration and promote integration projects of the South American Community of Nations.    

BOOST the development of our countries’ energy infrastructure as an element that will guarantee the sustainability of South American integration.   

FOSTER the development of renewable energy because it plays an important role in the diversification of the primary energy matrix, energy security, the promotion of universal access to energy, and environmental preservation.   

EXPRESS our recognition of the potential of biofuels to diversify South America’s energy matrix.  In this connection, we will join forces to exchange experiences in the region, with a view to employing these sources for maximum efficiency, in such a way that they promote social development and the development of agricultural technology and production.    

CARRY OUT cooperation programs and activities involving the saving and efficient use of energy.   

PROMOTE cooperation among the member countries’ national petroleum companies, including the industrialization of hydrocarbons and commercial energy transactions, thereby contributing to the development and competitiveness of South America and enhancing our peoples’ welfare within the framework of criteria of complementarity, solidarity and equity.   

EXPRESS our recognition of the initiatives taken by different countries to increase cooperation in and the coordination of energy efforts, such as PETROSUR, PETROANDINA, PETROAMERICA, Petrolera del Cono Sur and others.

DRAW ATTENTION TO the importance of assuring compatibility between the production of all energy sources, agricultural production, environmental preservation and the promotion and defense of decent social and labor conditions, thereby ensuring South America’s role as an efficient energy producer.    

EXPRESS our concern over the consequences of climate change and its negative prospects, and call upon all countries, particularly the developed nations, to promote responsible energy consumption policies in keeping with the needs of all the world’s regions, population and ecosystems.   

STUDY mechanisms that will make it possible to move ahead in harmonizing regulations, standards and technical specifications that will make energy interconnections and interchanges among countries viable.   

FOSTER technical cooperation initiatives and human resource training programs of the region’s countries, as well as the exchange of information, institutional strengthening and capacity building.    

RECOGNIZE that scientific and technological innovation and the promotion of joint research on energy matters constitute an appropriate vehicle for the region’s technological development.  In this connection, it is recommended that links be established among member country research centers to contribute to decision-making by the South American Community of Nations.    

We Presidents hereby create the South American Energy Council made up of the Ministers of Energy of each country, to, based on the principles set forth in this Declaration, present proposed guidelines for the South American Energy Strategy, the Action Plan and the South American Treaty on Energy, which will be discussed at the Third South American Summit.    

Margarita Island, April 17, 2007.