Desarrollo energético en América Latina y la economía mundial

Míchael Nelson I TOWARDS A LUIN AMERICAN ENERGY POLICY situations, developing indigenous technology and managing the production, transport and distribution of energy. The third area is collaboration between energy deficient countries to gain economies of scale or market, power, through: - joint purchasing to improve their negotiating position with sup– plíers; - formation of consortia between state energy enterprises and inter– national companies for exploration and development of energy sources within or outside the region. In considering the possibility of an international institution for R & D in energy, Mr. Zarb has fully covered the issues pro and con. 1 will deal here with three possible forms for such an instÍtution which may warrant examinatÍon in reaching a decision on how to proceed. Turning first to the United Nations system (excluding the IMF and World Bank) there are a variety of agencies which undertake or finance R & D in energy such as the UNDP, International Atomic Energy Agency, UNIDO, and the regional economic commissions. For example energy researeh at CEPAL has a double focus. First, it coneen– trates on energy matters from the point of view of their relevance to economic growth and social change. Second, it stresses energy sector planning within the broader context of national economic and social planning. Thus, energy is an integral part of CEPAL'S general pro– gramme of research focusing on planning and development in the region. The areas discussed within the UN for international1y coordinated work in the energy field cover ten primary topies new and renewable energy sources, projection of global supply and demand, energy alIocation in emergency, stockpiling, control of transnational corpo– rations, energy statistics, traning, environmental issues, transfer of energy technology and consumer-producter dialogue. The question arises oí if, and how, these various activities should be integrated, augmented or refocused to better serve the interests oí member countdes. Another institutional model is offered by the Internationa,l Institute of Systems Analysis (nASA) which was formed under agreement bet– ween nationaI scientific organizations of 15 countries from both East and West. In the case of energy an institution may be íunded by a contribution of exporter and importer countries. This would represent 243