The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), with the support of the European Union’s GET.transform programme, held a capacity-building workshop on 28–29 April 2026 in Asunción, focused on the implementation of the resilient electricity planning methodology in Paraguay. The activity was carried out as part of the technical assistance provided to the Vice Ministry of Mines and Energy, within the framework of a strategic agenda aimed at strengthening electricity sector planning in the face of climate risks and external shocks.

The opening session was attended by the Minister of Public Works and Communications, Engineer Claudia Centurión, who emphasized that resilience should not be understood as an end in itself, but rather as a fundamental instrument for ensuring the continuity, quality and reliability of electricity services for the population. In this regard, she underscored that embedding resilience criteria into planning processes makes it possible to anticipate risks, optimize investment decision-making and safeguard the functioning of essential services, particularly in a context of growing exposure to extreme weather events.

ECLAC emphasized that electricity system resilience constitutes a central component of energy policy, insofar as it brings together dimensions of energy security, sustainability and productive development. It was also highlighted that the proposed methodology promotes a structural shift in planning processes, moving away from reactive approaches towards proactive frameworks grounded in systematic risk analysis, uncertainty management, and the integration of these elements into system expansion and operation models.

The workshop brought together technical teams from the public sector, electricity utilities and national energy specialists, including representatives of the Vice Ministry of Mines and Energy, the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the binational entities Itaipú Binacional and Yacyretá (EBY). From the academic sector, the Polytechnic Faculty and the Universidad Católica de Chile participated. The private and cooperative sectors were represented by the companies Clyfsa and Heliotec, as well as the Chortitzer Cooperative. This multisectoral approach seeks to strengthen institutional coordination and promote a shared vision of the challenges and opportunities in the area of resilience.

Over the course of two days, technical sessions and applied exercises were held, aimed at understanding and implementing the methodological guide adapted to the Paraguayan context. The content covered the identification and characterization of hazards, the quantification of risks and impacts on electricity infrastructure, and their incorporation into planning processes. The workshop also addressed the pillars associated with the design of contingency response plans and protocols, as well as learning and adaptation mechanisms for reducing future vulnerabilities.

The workshop also served as a forum for the technical validation of the implementation guide developed for Paraguay, incorporating inputs from the Expert Advisory Committee that has accompanied this process, and facilitating the identification of gaps, information needs and opportunities for improvement in the sector’s institutional and regulatory framework.

This initiative forms part of ECLAC’s broader efforts to strengthen the capacities of Latin American and Caribbean countries in energy planning, in line with the challenges posed by climate change and the imperative to advance towards more secure, inclusive and sustainable energy systems.

Through this action, ECLAC reaffirms its commitment to supporting Paraguay in the strengthening of its energy governance and the consolidation of tools that improve the quality of electricity services, safeguard the well-being of the population and contribute to a sustainable development trajectory.