Regional energy integration: a wide and worthy challenge for South America

摘要

In the regional integration process, analyzing the possibility of creating a supranational entity to transfer the decision-making power traditionally reserved for the State deserves attention. Natural gas has the essential characteristics to be the catalyst of regional energy integration as well as being a fuel-bridge to a possible energy transition to renewable fuels. Although natural gas is cleaner than other fossil fuels, and is cheaper and abundant in the region, the potential synergies that can flow from natural gas developments have not been exploited by South American countries. This paper aims to discuss the process of energy integration in South America.