BRICS Working Group discusses ways in which energy security and sustainable transition can advance together

The Energy Group will produce two reports, one on new and sustainable fuels and another one on access to energy services. Federal Government’s Luz para Todos program is considered a good practice to be shared with BRICS countries. Biofuels production is another example.

By Thayara Martins | thayara.martins@presidencia.gov.br 

There are no contradictions between energy security and the energy transition; rather, they complement each other. This is the view expressed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s Special Advisor Mariana Espécie, who explained that the exploration of new solutions to make the energy sector more sustainable occurs while society, industry, and transportation continue to require electricity and fuels. Mariana Espécie gave a press conference together with João Marcos Paes Leme, Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Energy Department this Tuesday (25), after the first BRICS Energy Meeting in Brasilia.

According to Espécie, Brasil is well positioned in the energy transition, with an energy matrix that is nearly 90% renewable while also ensuring a reliable energy supply for the population. “Energy reaches people's homes, but that does not mean we won’t occasionally need to rely on some fossil fuels to guarantee supply—especially in areas where energy comes from wind turbines and solar panels, which are subject to significant fluctuations in generation,” she stated.

According to Mariana Espécie, the sector advances as new solutions prove to be both feasible and practical, especially considering that cost remains a key factor in many contexts. She noted that there is no doubt diesel and gasoline are still cheaper. “For the general population, it is much easier to get a flex-fuel vehicle than to buy an electric one, for example,” she said. Espécie added that energy transition and energy security go hand in hand and must progress together. She highlighted that Brasil has achieved this complementarity by adopting biofuels and considering the cost-benefit balance.

Director João Marcos Paes Leme recalled that one of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) includes ensuring energy access for the population. He emphasized that energy supply must consider economic, social, and environmental dimensions. According to Paes Leme, the security-versus-transition dilemma must be viewed through this lens. “Brasil proves that there is no contradiction here; the key is to gradually develop decarbonization solutions to address both climate change and the finite nature of fossil fuels, which still underpin the energy sectors of many countries. As the production of sustainable fuels naturally increases, the demand for fossil fuels will decline, and this balance will create economic opportunities for countries like ours,' he argued.

Exchange of experiences

Brasil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy (Ministério de Minas e Energia /MME) coordinates the BRICS Energy cooperation activities in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ministério das Relações Exteriores /MRE). To document the strategies, the BRICS Energy Working Group will produce two reports, one on new and renewable fuels and another one on access to energy services, which will be approved during the BRICS Ministers Meeting scheduled for May.

The report on access to energy services aims to serve as a repository of best practices and possible pathways to help eliminate persistent challenges in some BRICS countries, such as energy scarcity and unsafe food preparation practices. Advisor Mariana Espécie cited the Luz para Todos (Light for All) Program as an initiative that could be shared with certain countries in the group.

“The goal of this report is to compile policies that can help many of these emerging countries explore alternative approaches, including engaging key stakeholders such as multilateral banks and philanthropic organizations in the discussion. Each country will be able to implement solutions tailored to its specific context,” Espécie concluded.