Energy Security in South America: The role of Brazil

This report examines the role of Brazil in enhancing energy security and integration across South America. It argues that while the region possesses vast energy resources, domestic-focused security strategies and a lack of regional regulation have led to high economic costs and underutilized infrastructure. The author proposes the creation of a Multilateral Energy Security Reserve (RMSE) treaty to provide a legal framework for energy imports and dispute settlement, positioning Brazil as the ideal coordinator due to its market size, geography, and leadership in both fossil fuels and renewable energy.

• South American countries currently struggle to ensure domestic energy security despite the region's status as a net energy exporter. The prevailing approach of treating energy security as a domestic matter has resulted in high economic costs, the neglect of low-cost energy solutions, and idle infrastructure.
• Brazil is uniquely positioned to lead South American energy integration and the transition to a low-carbon economy because of its central geography, market size, and abundance of both renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
• The report proposes the establishment of a Multilateral Energy Security Reserve (RMSE) treaty to provide a legal basis for contracts and ensure free access to infrastructure and reserves during supply insecurities. This treaty must also include an institutional mechanism for settling regional disputes, as the European Energy Charter was rejected in South America primarily because its dispute settlement system was based outside the region.
• The Brazilian government's current use of subsidies and proposals to renew hydropower plant concessions at prices below opportunity costs are criticized as distortions that fail to solve structural energy supply security issues.

APA

de Oliveira,, A. (2010). Energy Security in South America: The role of Brazil. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/energy-security-south-america-role-brazil

Chicago

de Oliveira,, Adilson. Energy Security in South America: The role of Brazil. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2010. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/energy-security-south-america-role-brazil.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=de Oliveira, |first1=Adilson |title=Energy Security in South America: The role of Brazil |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=31 August 2010 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/energy-security-south-america-role-brazil |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{deoliveira2010energy, author = {de Oliveira,, Adilson}, title = {{Energy Security in South America: The role of Brazil}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2010}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/energy-security-south-america-role-brazil}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }