Author: Ana Filipa Santos

The RELOP Activities Plan 2025 outlines RELOP’s actions for this year, aligned with its strategic plan for 2022–2025, which was presented at a particularly challenging period, in a global context of major challenges, such as decarbonisation, but also of great instability of multifaceted origins with global public health challenges, regional conflicts and high energy prices, with profound consequences for all sectors of the society.

The Activities Plan 2025 focuses on the continuous strengthening of our Association, both internally and in its external projection and co-operation.

As the previous Plans, it is organized in three pillars:

• Internal activities
• External activities
• Communication

The Activities Plan for 2025 is the most ambitious ever presented, with a total of 20 activities, including trainings, organisation and participation in both online and presential events, collaboration with entities such as ALSF, ARIAE and ICER, among others.

This document also reflects RELOP’s commitment to the CPLP, actively participating in the organisation of the Energy and Climate Seminars and the 2nd CPLP Energy Conference.ergia e Clima e da II Conferência de Energia da CPLP.

Applications for the 2025 Maria Cristina Portugal Award are now open!

The 2025 edition of the Maria Cristina Portugal Award (PMCP), promoted by RELOP, seeks to honor the best technical article dedicated to “Energy Sustainability.” The goal is to recognise and reward scientific texts or articles authored by professionals from RELOP member organisations.

Objectives of the Award

The competition aims to stimulate the production, dissemination, and recognition of scientific literature in Portuguese, relevant to the sector. It also seeks to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and innovative practices among professionals.

Eligibility Criteria

Language: The texts must be written in Portuguese.

Therefore, to know more information consult this article in portuguese.

Maria Cristina Portugal, lawyer by education, held positions of merit in the energy sector in the past years. Maria passed away on September 8th of 2021.

Maria Cristina was the President of the Board of Directors for the Energy Services Regulatory Authority in Portugal – ERSE, since 2017, where she also held positions such as Member of the ERSE Board of Directors and President of the Tariff Council for 15 years.

Before stepping into her roles at ERSE, Maria Cristina was Vice-President of the Consumers Institute and also took on the role of Member of the European Commission’s expert network for a Common Framework of Reference in European Contract Law, where she previously held the position of technical advisor and Member for the Reform of Consumer Law and the Consumer Code; before that, she was a member of the Lisbon District Council of the Portuguese Bar Association.

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The 20th RELOP General Assembly, held on November 8, 2024 in Foz do Iguaçu, approved for the first time changes to the RELOP Statutes, which are now in force.

In addition to its members, RELOP is now open to “Associates” and “Observers.” Candidates for these categories are as follows:

• Associates: Independent entities with regulatory functions and competencies in the energy sector, operating at a regional or local level, with a preferably general or specific focus, originating from countries or regions where Portuguese is the official language.
• Observers: Public entities with functions and competencies in the energy sector, also originating from countries or regions with Portuguese as the official language.

Interested parties may express their interest through RELOP’s Secretariat, and their applications will be submitted to the General Assembly for consideration.

Associates and observers can participate in RELOP activities, propose actions to RELOP’s governing bodies, request bilateral meetings with the Council of Presidents to discuss relevant issues, initiatives, or projects, and attend General Assembly meetings, although without voting rights.

Visit our website and social media channels to learn more about RELOP’s activities.

2024 was a year of great achievements for RELOP, marking significant advances in regulation and the promotion of the energy transition.

Together, we promoted training sessions – face-to-face and online; debate sessions and public events.

We deepened our relationship with other organisations by participating in ICER and organising our Annual Conference together with ARIAE.

Within the framework of the CPLP Thematic Commission on Energy, RELOP co-organised 3 Seminars and took part in the launch of the 2nd CPLP Energy Conference.

As we prepare for the challenges of 2025, take a look back at the best moments of 2024:

May the new year be full of opportunities, achievements and unforgettable moments for us all!

The session focused on “The Role of Regulation in the Petroleum Sector for Decarbonization.”

The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) and RELOP jointly organized the 3rd ALSF-RELOP Legal Webinar on November 28.

Moderated by César Vamos Ver from ALSF, the session attracted around 50 participants.

Abelina Chambule, from the National Petroleum Institute (INP), and Victoria Correia, from the National Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), contributed with insights as regulators, sharing perspectives on decarbonization initiatives and ongoing projects in the petroleum sector in Mozambique and Angola.

The event also featured private sector speakers who shared their experiences on the topic. Julia Dias, from ENH, discussed the trajectory and practices adopted by the Mozambican oil company, while Ricardo Silva, from Miranda Alliance, highlighted the International Principles for Energy Transition.

Artur Trindade, Executive Director of RELOP, closed the session by summarizing key points and emphasizing the importance of regulation in the context of Energy Transition.

RELOP members gathered in Foz do Iguaçu to decide the organization’s future

On the morning of November 8, RELOP members convened for the association’s 20th General Assembly. The meeting took place at the Itaipu Binacional facilities, alongside the 1st ARIAE-RELOP International Conference, with the participation of 11 out of its 12 members.

During the session, RELOP’s Working Groups presented the initiatives carried out throughout the year, while the Secretariat shared an overview of collaborations between RELOP and other organizations, as well as a forward-looking perspective on these institutional partnerships for 2025.

Key topics for RELOP’s future were also discussed at the Assembly, including the approval of the 2025 Activity Plan and Budget—the largest ever proposed—with 20 planned activities. Amendments to the bylaws were also approved, establishing new governance bodies: the Administration and the Council of Presidents. The revised bylaws also introduce the possibility of admitting “Associate” and “Observer” members, subject to a General Assembly decision.

At the start of the session, the text of the Iguaçu Declaration was presented and debated. A common draft, agreed upon by ARIAE and RELOP, was approved, reflecting both associations’ commitment to the future of regulation in the energy sector. The Declaration can be accessed here.

Finally, ARENE and INP from Mozambique submitted their candidacy to host RELOP’s annual events in 2025.

Working Groups on Energy Transition and Oil, Gas, Biofuels, and Derivatives held an event in Foz do Iguaçu

On the afternoon of November 7, the RELOP Working Groups organized two thematic workshops in a hybrid format. This program was held alongside the 1st Joint International Conference of ARIAE and RELOP, which brought together members of all the entities comprising RELOP at the Itaipu Hydroelectric Plant.

The Energy Transition Working Group focused its session on the theme “Regulatory Best Practices for Energy Transition.” The session featured a virtual opening by ANEEL Director Agnes da Costa.

During the workshop, representatives from the six RELOP member countries presented initiatives being implemented in their nations within the scope of the energy transition. Miguel Alves, from ERSE, introduced the Energy Consumption Efficiency Promotion Plan (PPEC) adopted in Portugal. Gustavo Murad, from ANEEL, explained the auction system used in Brazil and its benefits. Vita Mateso, from ANPG, discussed initiatives for decarbonizing the energy sector in Angola. Célsio Quaresma, from ANP-STP, highlighted the National Renewable Energy Action Plan (PANER) implemented in São Tomé and Príncipe and the opportunities it has created for the country. Aline Conceição, from ARME, provided a brief summary of energy transition regulations in Cape Verde. Telma Nkutumula, from ARENE, detailed Mozambique’s Energy Transition Strategy.

Following the presentations, the new coordination for the Working Group for 2025 was announced, with ENSE, represented by Fernando Martins, taking over the coordination role, and ANEEL, represented by Djane Melo, assuming the deputy coordination role.

The Working Group on Oil, Gas, Biofuels, and Derivatives focused its session on the theme “ESG in Oil Activities.” The session featured three remote speakers.

João Russo, from the oil company Azule Energy, began his presentation by discussing the company and its operations in Angola. He highlighted the company’s environmental and social initiatives as well as governance best practices adopted by the oil firm.

Carolina Cruz, from the sustainability consulting firm C-MORE, provided an overview of the evolution of ESG issues in Europe and other markets and shared sustainable governance best practices. She also discussed sustainability solutions offered by the company and shared examples of initiatives adopted by its clients.

Emanuel Bernardo, President of the Angolan Carbon Markets Association, addressed the evolution of Angola’s energy sector and explained the development of carbon markets in the country and the benefits they bring. He also discussed actions the association has taken, in partnership with companies, to offset emissions in Angola.

The event enjoyed significant participation from RELOP members and provided insights into the activities and realities of the association’s Working Groups for all its members.

The event, organized by RELOP, will take place on May 27–28, 2025, in Cascais.

On November 15, 2024, the Portugal Pavilion at COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, hosted the official launch of the II Energy Conference of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

The ceremony featured RELOP, represented by Dércio Monteiro from the National Petroleum Institute (INP), which currently holds the Association’s vice-presidency. During his speech, Monteiro highlighted the importance of “promoting an environment conducive to the development of partnerships and the formulation of joint strategies that positively impact our countries.” He further noted that this ambition has already begun to take shape through the CPLP Energy and Climate Seminar Series. Monteiro stressed that the success of the conference will depend on the participants’ “ability to turn ideas into actions,” inviting everyone to actively engage in the event and discussions on the energy future of the Lusophone space.

Over two days, Cascais will host discussions on the latest developments and anchor projects in energy transitions across CPLP countries, aiming to enhance endogenous resources and diversify the energy mix. This effort seeks to ensure universal, reliable, and affordable access to energy while supporting socioeconomic development.

This high-level event, featuring Energy Ministers from CPLP countries, will provide numerous networking and visibility opportunities through plenary and parallel sessions, an exhibition area, social zones, and a VIP gala dinner.

The II CPLP Energy Conference is scheduled for May 27–28, 2025, at the Estoril Congress Center in Cascais. Organized by RELOP in partnership with the Lusophone Association for Renewable Energies (ALER), the event is promoted by São Tomé and Príncipe’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Natural Resources under the São Toméan presidency of the CPLP.

For more information about the event: https://energiacplp.com/

Watch the Launch Ceremony: https://youtu.be/vlL07_ZYmKs

Collaboration between international regulators is essential to implement concrete actions that guarantee independence, transparency, legal certainty and predictability. These actions are crucial to protecting the interests of consumers and increasing the sector’s attractiveness for investment, ensuring a more secure and sustainable energy future.

The 1st ARIAE-RELOP International Conference, held on 6 November 2024, brought together more than a hundred energy experts from various RELOP and ARIAE member countries who addressed three major themes that are essential for the global energy future: the regulatory challenges of the energy transition, the role of regulation in extraordinary events and the impacts of the energy transition and extreme events on tariffs and prices in the electricity market.

This meeting resulted in the Iguazu Declaration, signed by the two associations and which defends the role of regulators as guardians of the public interest and promoters of regulatory developments.