Diego Rivera Rivota

🇲🇽 Mexico produces 8 of the 60 minerals the US considers critical. So why are new mining projects stuck in a holding pattern? In this new CGEP task force report, experts @diegorivota, Paloma García Segura, and Tom Moerenhout dig into what's blocking Mexico's critical minerals sector and what could unblock it. 🧵👇 energypolicy.columbia.edu/pu…

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are reshaping global energy markets. 💻 In our latest #EnergyExplained blog post, CGEP experts Dr. Luisa Palacios and @diegorivota examine how the war in Iran—and potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz—could elevate Latin America's role as a key supplier of oil and gas. Read here: energypolicy.columbia.edu/th…

🚨 Applications are now open for the 2026 #EnergyJournalismFellows program! As energy and climate issues increasingly intersect with every beat, we're inviting journalists from all backgrounds to join us for a deep dive into the global energy landscape. Apply here: bit.ly/EnergyJournalismFello…

🗓️ Thu, Jan 29 🖥️ Webinar How can national regulation strengthen trust and integrity in project-based carbon credit markets? Join @ColumbiaUEnergy, @CGC_Mumbai, and @CGCNairobi for a discussion with experts from Kenya, India, and Brazil. Register here: events.columbia.edu/cal/even…

"We're better prepared in some respects, but we still could be better prepared in others," CGEP expert @joshdr83 tells the @nytimes. Rhodes remains concerned about the system for transporting natural gas from production sites in West Texas and elsewhere to the power plants that burn the gas to generate electricity. Much like household pipes, natural gas pipelines and other equipment that is not properly insulated can freeze, interrupting the supply of fuel to power plants. nytimes.com/2026/01/23/busin…

Venezuela holds ~70% of Latin America's natural gas reserves but much of it goes unused. 💻 In our latest #EnergyExplained blog post, CGEP's Luisa Palacios, @diegorivota & @ira_joseph examine how more efficient use of Venezuela's natural gas could strengthen regional energy security and restore reliability. Read here: energypolicy.columbia.edu/mo…

Venezuela holds ~70% of Latin America's natural gas reserves but much of it goes unused. 💻 In our latest #EnergyExplained blog post, CGEP's Luisa Palacios, @diegorivota & @ira_joseph examine how more efficient use of Venezuela's natural gas could strengthen regional energy security and restore reliability. Read here: energypolicy.columbia.edu/mo…

The dense and sticky Venezuelan crude is high in sulfur, making it harder to extract and refine than other oil, such as the lighter oil produced from US shale fields, CGEP expert @diegorivota tells the @latimes reporter @sjgrattan. "It's very dense, very sloppy, very hard. And it's also very sour," he says. "What that means in practical terms is that it requires, versus other types of oil resources, higher infrastructure, higher use of energy—it's much more energy intensive—and hence much more carbon intensive as well." latimes.com/environment/stor…

The global climate consequences of dramatically scaling up Venezuelan oil, if that does prove possible, are hard to predict. It would very much depend on how the oil is extracted "but most likely carbon emissions would very significantly increase," CGEP expert @diegorivota tells @CNN reporter @laurapaddison. cnn.com/2026/01/07/climate/v…

Venezuela's vast oil reserves do not guarantee a rapid production rebound. In @politico, CGEP expert @diegorivota underscores that rebuilding the country's oil sector will require years of financing, stability, and clear investment incentives. politico.com/news/magazine/2…