With the objective of establishing joint projects between the Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS), Franco Hernán Gómez, advisor to the Ministry on bioenergy and biogas in energy communities and an outstanding graduate of the UIS Chemical Engineering program, visited his alma mater to learn about the operation of the Anaerobic Digestion Laboratory.
“We came to visit the university aware of the important work that the biogas laboratory has developed and its implementation in the transfer of knowledge at the community level. This encompasses rural, urban and educational contexts, which allows a high capacity for replication and learning, aligning with the government’s intention to implement an energy transition policy,” highlighted Franco Hernán Gómez.
The advisor and professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona, Spain, described the meeting as fruitful, highlighting the potential for collaboration between the parties. “There are synergies of cooperation and opportunities for learning exchange, both in terms of successes and challenges. Surely we can move forward in the implementation and replication of these initiatives at the national level in rural and urban contexts,” he said.
During the tour of the central campus, professors and directors of the UIS expressed their satisfaction with the visit and pointed out that the legal processes are already underway to finalize the cooperation projects. “Together with the External Relations Unit and the Academic Cooperation Coordination, we prepared a draft framework agreement. This will be reviewed by the legal teams of both parties to formalize an agreement that will allow the development of biogas and bioenergy projects”, explained Liliana del Pilar Castro Molano, director of the UIS External Relations Unit and researcher of the Interfase group, attached to the School of Chemical Engineering.
It is important to note that for 18 years, the UIS has been working on the implementation of biogas and bioenergy in rural communities, positioning itself as a leading institution in these strategic areas for the sustainable development of the country.
