• Enel Colombia, through its Foundation, 24 solar panels were installed at five Referral and Orientation Points of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 
• The mobile offices that will operate with solar energy are located in Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Popayán, Pamplona and Ipiales, and will benefit more than 45,000 people per year. To date, more than 18,000 beneficiaries have already had access to this service.
• This initiative contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) health and well-being; affordable and clean energy; and reduction of inequalities.
• This is the result of a partnership between private enterprise, international cooperation and the IOM, and is part of the IOM's information and orientation strategy financed by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).

Bogota, May 11, 2022. - Through its Foundation, Enel Colombia installed 24 solar panels in five mobile Referral and Orientation Points (PRO) of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which provide accurate and updated information to Venezuelan refugees and migrants, Colombian returnees and host communities, as well as access to humanitarian assistance services. 

The panels were delivered under the partnership signed between both parties, and the PRO strategy is financially supported by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the U.S. Department of State. 

Thus, the PROs located in Bogotá, Bucaramanga, Popayán, Pamplona and Ipiales have the autonomy to operate medical and computer equipment, as well as to provide free internet connection and recharge mobile devices with clean energy. Previously, these Reference and Orientation Points operated with fossil fuel-fired power plants that generated noise in the areas of operation. 

The new solar panels have an installed capacity of approximately 1,260 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month, equivalent to about 380 trees that would need to be planted to absorb CO2 from other non-renewable sources. All this, thanks to the support of Enel X, Enel Colombia's business unit specialized in photovoltaic systems.

"The Energy Transition is one of the strategic pillars of the Enel Group, and for this reason we are developing renewable energy projects and initiatives that contribute to the well-being of the environment and care for the environment. With this delivery to the IOM, we will not only make viable the care of more than 45,000 people per year; we also continue contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals focused on health and wellbeing, affordable and non-polluting energy, and the reduction of inequalities", stated Lucio Rubio Díaz, CEO of Enel Colombia. 

It should be noted that at these points, migrants and refugees, Colombian returnees and host communities can receive information about their rights and duties, access services such as physical and psychological first aid, humanitarian aid kits, and reestablish family contacts. In addition, they can be referred to temporary shelter services, humanitarian transportation, legal and consular assistance, specialized services for survivors of gender-based violence or child protection, among others. The PROs also support the implementation of the Temporary Protection Statute (EPTV) through information, orientation and assistance for pre-registration and scheduling for the bio-metric, in coordination with Migration Colombia.

"We are convinced that joining forces with the private sector and international cooperation in this type of humanitarian response allows us to take advantage of the knowledge and resources of those involved, particularly the business sector, in different areas of common interest. This partnership with Enel and PRM represents an exercise in complementarity and innovation in favor of the most vulnerable communities, including the refugee and migrant population and host communities," added Ana Durán, Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

These actions reaffirm the potential of human mobility in building stronger and more resilient communities that contribute to social, economic, cultural and environmental development in Colombia.

"Thanks to the autonomy generated by the solar panels installed by Enel in the PROs, more Venezuelan refugees and migrants, located in remote and difficult to access areas of the national territory, will be able to receive accurate and updated information and access humanitarian assistance services that safeguard their lives and integrity," concluded Anjalina Sen of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).

ABOUT ENEL COLOMBIA

Enel is a multinational electricity company and a leading integrated player in the global power and renewable energy markets. It is the largest European company by ordinary EBITDA and is present in more than 30 countries, producing energy with about 90 GW of installed capacity. Enel distributes electricity through a network of more than 2.2 million kilometers and, with around 75 million grid customers, is the world's largest grid operator1.

Enel Colombia is present in the entire electric energy chain and its equity value exceeds 30 billion pesos. On the generation front, it has 14 power plants with an installed capacity of 3,503 MW, in addition to 5 renewable energy projects under construction, through its Enel Green Power business line, which contribute an additional 1,097 MW. In the commercialization and distribution markets, it serves close to 3.7 million residential, commercial, industrial and official customers, thanks to an installed capacity of 11,620 MVA along 74,803 kilometers of network. From its Enel X business line, it offers services to accelerate innovation and drive the energy transition and electrification with solutions for cities, industries and homes.

On the other hand, the Company has power generation assets in Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala, which add another 606 MW of installed capacity and 70 MW under construction. 

 
For more information:

Laura Santamaria
lsantamaria@iom.int
National Communications Officer
IOM Colombia