Current Debate Speaker: Victor Carlos Urrutia Guardia

Victor Carlos Urrutia Guardia

• Secretary National Secretariat of Energy, Panama

Mr. Urrutia Guardia obtained a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering at Purdue University and a Ph.D. in Physics at Indiana University, United States of America.

He has been an outstanding collaborator in the electricity sector since the 1970s, starting at the first state-owned electrification utility in the country: the Institute of Hydraulic Resources and Electrification (IRHE, in Spanish). Afterward he became an independent consultant in feasibility studies, market, expert reports and other engineering projects inherent to the Panamanian energy development.

Mr. Urrutia Guardia has also had an active participation in the structuring or modification of the main regulations related to the Panamanian electricity sector, including the Law from 1997 that regulates the activity.

In 2009 he held the position of General Administrator of Public Services (ASEP, in Spanish), where he distinguished himself by setting in order the allocation of concessions and licenses for power generation, and reformulating the auctions for the allocation of these resources. He is credited for achieving long-term tenders for the electric power supply within the electricity market.

He is member of the Panamanian Association of Business Executives (APEDE, in Spanish), the Panamanian Society of Engineers and Architects (SPIA, in Spanish), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Rotary Club of Panama.

A few years ago Mr. Urrutia Guardia shared his knowledge as a professor at the Faculties of Electronic Engineering, Communications and Physics in the University of Panama.