Comptroller points out faults in national energy plan

Claimed lack of coordination and states clear and concrete actions

Ex minister Castro claimed that CGR not detained to allocate funds for savings and efficiency

July 31st,2014

In formulating public policy of energy efficiency, Minae left out six members of the subsector, including the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and the Costa Rican Oil Refinery (Recope).

Although up the Subsectorial Energy Council, six members were not even requested or reviewed proposals. Then validated guidelines, but did not participate in its formulation.

That's one of the most serious flaws revealed in DFOE-AE-IF-05-2014 report, the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR). The court examined the reasonableness of state policies to regulate the growth of energy demand and analyzed the extent to comply with the actions planned to achieve a more efficient consumption.

One criticism is that the National Development Plan (2011-2014) only establishes a direct responsibility Minae, which happens to be "very general" and based on "mere dissemination." The other goals fall into the hands of the Transport portfolio or renewable energy generators.

According to the CGR, this text should serve as a guiding framework of the Government's public policy, no design plans, programs and projects.

The VI National Energy Plan (2012-2030) drew red note: no evidence what actions are priorities for improving energy efficiency and does not analyze whether these are viable or what their impact.

What is to be generated between 2020 and 2030 by such actions? That does not define concretely the plan of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae).

According to the report, officials of the previous administration, led by Minister René Castro, not implemented many of the actions contained in the Fourth National Energy Conservation Program (2012-2015): not established agreements to finance purchases of efficient equipment or implement clean energy projects.

Another failure: the National Energy Conservation Commission has not met since 2007.

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