WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of Energy Jeffrey Kupfer will travel to Brazil and Colombia next week to strengthen bilateral relations aimed at increasing global energy security through the development of safe, reliable, clean, affordable and diverse energy supplies.

“The United States has a strong and growing relationship with Brazil and Colombia,” Acting Deputy Secretary Kupfer said. “I look forward to working with government officials and private sector leaders on ways that we can address rising global energy demand, while sustaining economic growth and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

On Monday, Kupfer will arrive in Rio de Janeiro and tour Petrobras’ Leopoldo Americo Miquez de Mello Research and Development Center (CENPES) where he will observe ongoing research and development on biofuels.  Later in the day, Kupfer will meet with Petrobras President Sergio Gabrielli and U.S. oil and gas industry representatives.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Kupfer will be in Brasilia to meet with senior government officials including Brazil’s Mines and Energy Minister Edison Lobão.  Also on Wednesday, Kupfer will travel to São Paulo, where he will meet with representatives of Brazil’s biofuels industry.

The visit to Brazil comes during a period of strong global energy demand and continued energy cooperation between the United States and Brazil. The United States and Brazil have worked closely together in a variety of multilateral and bilateral forums to develop cutting edge renewable, alternative, nuclear and fossil energy solutions to meet energy security needs.

On Thursday, Kupfer will travel to Cartagena, Colombia where he will meet with senior government officials and deliver remarks at the annual General Assembly of the National Industrial Association (ANDI), Colombia’s largest private sector association.  He will tour Colombia’s largest coal mine, the “La Loma.”  The “La Loma” mine, developed by the U.S. company Drummond, produces one of the lowest sulfur and ash coals currently exported from Colombia.  Kupfer will also speak with leaders in Colombia’s biofuels industry during a meeting of the National Biofuels Federation.  Colombia is currently one of the largest ethanol producers in Latin America, second only to Brazil.

Colombia a key supplier of oil, natural gas and coal to the United States, as well as an important regional leader who has worked to enhance security and limit investment barriers.  In 2007, new foreign direct investment totaled $7.5  billion, more than triple the amount in 2002.  The bulk of new investment is in the manufacturing, mining and energy sectors.

Media contact(s):
Bethany Shively, (202) 586-4940