Marcelo Blanco Quintanilla has been appointed as the Vice Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energies in Bolivia. This designation is part of a broader reshuffling within the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, where several other key positions have also been filled. The appointments were formalized on November 18, 2025, by the Minister of Hydrocarbons, Mauricio Medinaceli.
Alongside Blanco Quintanilla, Alex Fernando Veizaga Pérez was named Vice Minister of Energy Planning and Development, and Caleb Montes Velarde assumed the role of Vice Minister of Exploration and Exploitation of Energy Resources. These three viceministerial appointments constitute a significant portion of the new leadership team for the energy sector.
Broader Cabinet Realignment
The Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, under Minister Medinaceli, has also seen new leadership for state-owned enterprises and regulatory bodies. Mario Larraín Saavedra is now the Executive President of the National Electricity Company (ENDE). Miguel Ángel Núñez Gaspar has taken over as the General Manager of the La Paz Electricity Distribution Company (DELAPAZ). Additionally, Adolfo Arturo Dávalos Yoshida has been appointed as the head of the Authority for the Regulation and Fiscalization of Electricity and Nuclear Technology (AETN).
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Minister Medinaceli reportedly acknowledged the "complex" and "not easy" nature of the challenges facing the energy sector. He expressed his gratitude to the newly appointed officials for accepting their roles, suggesting that further appointments are anticipated to complete the team.
Contextualizing the Appointments
These personnel changes occur within what Minister Medinaceli described as a "particularly complex moment" for Bolivia's energy landscape. The act of swearing in these new officials took place in La Paz. The ministry stated that these appointments are part of consolidating the team that will guide the government's energy management. While specific policy directives are not detailed, the emphasis on "electricity and renewable energies" in Blanco Quintanilla's title, alongside "exploration and exploitation of energy resources" for Montes Velarde, suggests a dual focus.
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