The signing of the cooperation agreement between Itaipu, represented by Jorge Miguel Samek, Director General (Brazil), and iha, represented by its Executive Director, Richard Taylor, took place at the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant. Also present were IHA Board Member and Itaipu Technical Director (Brazil), Antonio Otelo Cardoso, Itaipu Coordination and Environmental Director (Brazil), Nelton Friedrich, and the IHA South America Regional Office Coordinator, Ricardo Krauskopf Neto.
Commenting on the establishment of IHA’s first Regional Office, Richard Taylor said: “The IHA South America Office will promote the work of IHA on sustainable hydropower and foster increased IHA membership in South America. It will also assist in communications between IHA and its members in South America”. Taylor added: “By achieving these objectives, the experience and priorities of South America will be better represented and addressed by IHA in its global activities”.
Mr. Jorge Samek, commenting on the reasoning behind Itaipu’s support for the foundation of the Regional Office, said: “We have an obligation to actively engage in discussions about energy and sustainability that are of regional and global importance”. Samek added: “The hosting of the Regional Office is an important step in this direction".
The work activities of the IHA South America Office will include Spanish and Portuguese translation and dissemination of IHA documents to IHA members and potential members in South America and support and coordination of IHA events and activities in the region. The South America Office will also take a leading role in preparations for the establishment of a Regional Training Centre on Sustainable Hydropower at the Itaipu Technological Park (Parque Tecnológico Itaipu - PTI), in Iguassu.
The signing of the cooperation agreement took place during a visit by IHA Central Office team members to Brazil. Another purpose of the visit was to establish the foundations for the IHA 2011 World Congress, which will be held in Iguassu, 14-17 June 2011.
