Energy specialists from Latin America to study Russia’s experience in energy sector development

The InteRussia fellowship programme for energy professionals from Latin American countries has officially begun in St. Petersburg. The programme is organised by the Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation "Mezhdunarodniki" in cooperation with the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, St. Petersburg State University of Economics (UNECON) and the TV BRICS International Media Network, which also serves as the project's media partner.

Over the course of four weeks, ten participants from Ecuador, Cuba, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina will gain first-hand insight into Russia's fuel and energy sector, visit specialised industrial enterprises and government institutions, and prepare their own research projects focused on energy development in the Latin American region.

The fellowship brings together professionals from a wide range of energy-related fields, including representatives of sectoral ministries, engineers from the oil and pulp-and-power industries, electricity grid planners, university lecturers specialising in energy disciplines, and public relations consultants.

“The modern energy sector has long ceased to be merely a branch of the economy. Today, it is a space where new models of international cooperation are being shaped, the contours of technological development are being defined, and the foundations of a sustainable future are being laid. That is why the InteRussia fellowship programme for specialists from Latin American countries is intended to become not only an educational platform but also a fully fledged venue for professional dialogue and the development of long-term partnerships,” said Sergey Orlov, Deputy Executive Director of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

He also stressed that Russia possesses unique expertise in developing its fuel and energy complex (FEC) and is interested in meaningful exchanges of experience with colleagues from Latin America. According to Orlov, the programme provides participants not only with knowledge and practical experience but also with access to a professional community united by the search for solutions to global challenges.

“Russia continues to expand cooperation with Latin American countries across various sectors, including energy. Today, Russia and the countries of Latin America are capable not only of ensuring their own energy security but also of playing a crucial role in shaping international markets for energy resources, including coal, oil, natural gas, innovative gas-based energy solutions (LNG, hydrogen and methanol), carbon-free energy technologies and equipment (solar, wind, bioenergy and others), as well as supplying energy to energy-intensive industries,” said Igor Maksimtsev, Rector of St. Petersburg State University of Economics.

He noted that the growing number of bilateral projects requires highly qualified young professionals and that, by participating in the InteRussia programme, universities act as drivers of soft power, creating opportunities to build international connections where direct business cooperation is not always possible.

The fellowship will run until 22 August 2026 and will take place in St. Petersburg and Moscow. This is not the first edition of the programme dedicated to the energy sector. In 2024 and 2025, the InteRussia fellowship welcomed participants from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, El Salvador, Chile and Ecuador. Similar programmes were also organised for specialists from ASEAN member states in 2023 and 2025.

The programme is implemented with the support of the Global Energy Association, the National Committee for Promoting Economic Cooperation with Latin American Countries, the Russian Energy Agency of the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation, and the Presidential Grants Foundation.