Irene Vélez | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Mines and Energy | |
| In office August 11, 2022 – July 19, 2023 | |
| President | Gustavo Petro |
| Preceded by | Diego Mesa Puyo |
| Succeeded by | Omar Andrés Camacho |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Irene Vélez Torres August 2, 1982 Bogotá, Colombia |
| Political party | Soy Porque Somos |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
| Profession | |
Irene Vélez Torres (born August 2, 1982) is a Colombian philosopher and doctor in political geography. Since August 11, 2022 to July 19, 2023, she has held the position of Minister of Mines and Energy.[1]
Early life
Irene Vélez is the daughter of Hildebrando Vélez, an environmentalist and educator recognized for his activism in the Black Communities Process through which he became very close to Francia Márquez.[2] Vélez Torres studied philosophy at the National University, and a master's degree in cultural studies at the same university. She completed a doctorate in political geography at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark.[3]
Vélez has served as an environmental social leader against mining in Colombia, leading research related to the environmental impact of illegal mining on communities and energy transition models, and serving as a professor at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Valle.[2]
Minister of Mines and Energy
In 2022, her name was suggested to be Minister of Science and Technology in the government of Gustavo Petro, since she had been appointed as part of the joint team in that area with the previous government. On August 6, 2022, President-elect Gustavo Petro appointed her Minister of Mines and Energy.[2][4]
His appointment caused surprise due to the lack of expertise, the environmental activism that characterizes Vélez and that was not used to be a characteristic of those designated in this portfolio who have been administrators close to the extractivist energy sectors such as oil and coal extractors, although it was known that the campaign of the Petro government proposed an acceleration in the energy transition processes seeking to make the country less and less dependent on non-renewable extractive energies and increase technologies around clean or non-extractive energies.[5]
After many controversies, including two censure motions, she had to resign in June, 2023, due to a new controversy, this time over a case of influence peddling involving a migratory officer who was pressured, allegedly, by Velez to allow the departure of her son without complying with the legal requirements.[6]
References
- ↑ "¿Quién es Irene Vélez Torres, la próxima ministra de Minas?". El Espectador.
- 1 2 3 "Ministra de Minas y Energía de Gustavo Petro". 2022.
- ↑ La Silla Vacía. "Con Irene Vélez, Petro refuerza su apuesta de cambio en el sector extractivo".
- ↑ "Quién es Irene Vélez, la filósofa elegida para liderar el Ministerio de Minas y Energía". infobae (in European Spanish). 6 August 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ↑ Tiempo, Casa Editorial El. "Seis nuevos ministros del gobierno Petro ya se posesionaron". Portafolio.co (in Spanish). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ↑ "Fiscalía abrió indagación contra Irene Vélez por posible tráfico de influencias". infobae (in European Spanish). Retrieved 18 July 2023.
External links
Media related to Irene Vélez Torres at Wikimedia Commons
