Just and Inclusive transition to Clean Energy in La Guajira, Colombia

Bogota, September 25, 2023, 17:00h COT –

With the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Today, the Gutami Group, the Wayuú Indigenous leadership and Griner Cultivos Saludables announced their partnership for the realization of a unique 750 MW Solar Park and AgroFood project in Albania, La Guajira, Colombia.

This Solar Park will be amongst the biggest solar projects ever realized in the World and the biggest solar project in Latin America in particular. Gerben Pek, CEO of Gutami Group, commented: "By combining Solar Energy with AgroFood and working closely with the local Wayuú indigenous communities, this project aligns with the policy of ''Just and Inclusive Energy Transition to Clean Energy'' that is promoted by the national government of Colombia, and with the Pact for Just Energy Transition, that was signed in La Guajira on June 28, 2023. Through this project the Colombian (national) government, two private companies and the local Wayuu indigenous communities are significantly contributing to the realization of the Just Energy Transition”.

Luz Esperanza Cambar Cambar, leader of the local Wayuú communities, added: "This project is of great importance to the Wayuú communities as it will provide us with green electricity, better roads, employment during the construction and operation of the solar park. We also have the opportunity to actively participate in the project's AgroFood associativity program, which will provide us with a long-term sustainable source of food and income, thus moving towards the consolidation of Wayuu agro-energetic communities".

Alejandro Saenz, CEO Griner Cultivos Saludables: “Through this project, Griner envisions to introduce to the local indigenous communities of La Guajira, Colombia, innovative and cutting-edge agricultural methods, developed and field-tested by several Dutch universities specialized in the research of agricultural vocation of soils in tropical areas.”

The MoU was signed in Bogota, during the Trade Mission to Colombia organized by the Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, in the presence of: the Colombian Ministries of Mining and Energy and the Interior; the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; The Netherlands Embassy in Bogota; Holland House Colombia and The Netherlands Enterprise Agency.

About the MoU Parties:

The Wayuú Ethnic Authority represents the Indigenous communities involved in- and affected by the Chivo Mono 750 MW and Agro Food Project. The Wayuú are the largest and oldest ethnic group in Colombia that strive to preserve their traditions, character of community ancestral and cultural roots within their own territories;

Gutami Group is a Netherlands based sustainable energy developer and investor with 110 employees, that develops, constructs and operates ground mounted solar plants (490 MW realized, 6.000 MW in development), rooftop solar (70.000 installation realized), battery solutions and hydrogen projects in 15 countries across the world (Europe, North America, South America, Africa);

Griner Cultivos Saludables is a company led by Alejandro Saenz, that aims to connect the lives of plants, people and planet through sustainable agricultural techniques. Alejandro Saenz is also a shareholder of Saenz Fety, a leading AgroFood company specialized in trading and distribution of Agro implements in Colombia.