The Institute of Caribbean Studies at the University of Puerto Rico-Río Piedras (UPR-RP) invites the academic community and the general public to the lecture “La Cuenca del Caribe & la Geopolítica de la Energía: ‘¿Cuándo vamos a hacer algo?’” [The Caribbean Basin and the Geopolitics of Energy “When are we going to do something?”] by Jorge Piñón (Energy Institute—University of Texas at Austin). The commentator will be Luis A. Avilés Pagán, J.D (UPR-RP). This event will take place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 1:00pm (AST) in Room 238 of the Ramón Emeterio Betances Building (REB 238), School of Social Sciences, UPR-RP.
Description: Mr. Jorge Piñón is an analyst on regional energy issues, as well as oil and natural gas policy in the Caribbean and Latin America. He is also an energy researcher recognized as an expert in international geopolitics. He has shared his knowledge before committees of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. Among other topics, he will discuss the short- and medium-term challenges facing Puerto Rico.
In a context marked by frequent blackouts in Puerto Rico and other parts of the Caribbean, this lecture offers a critical look at the region’s energy challenges, exploring how geopolitical and structural factors influence the Caribbean’s energy vulnerability. It is an opportunity to reflect on the social, economic, and environmental implications of the current energy crisis.
This event will be streamed live via the Caribbean Studies Institute’s YouTube channel (Youtube del IEC).
For more information, please write to iec.ics@upr.edu or to the director, Dr. Don E. Walicek, at don.walicek@urp.edu or call 787-763-2943 ext. 87737.
[Photo above: “Headlights illuminate cobblestone streets in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, during an island-wide blackout, Wednesday, April 16, 2025.” AP Photo by Alejandro Granadillo, from the article by Dánica Coto, “A look at why an island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico and what caused it”; https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/ap-a-look-at-why-an-island-wide-blackout-hit-puerto-rico-and-what-caused-it/.]