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(...) The National Board for Independent Power Generation and Transport (CONAPTIE) is the body responsible for granting licences and approving and monitoring projects, as well as for the administrative settlement of disputes. Licences may be granted for all the activities covered by the Law, except for water powered generation in excess of 2 MW. (...)

Paraguay ranks 102nd out of 190 economies in the "getting electricity" subcategory of the World Bank's Doing Business Report (2017), which suggests that there is room to reduce costs and improve procedures and supply. As indicated in Paraguay's last TPR, technical and non technical losses are significant: in 2015, they amounted to 25% of production. Within the context of the National Energy Efficiency Plan, a series of measures for dealing with this problem have been identified, such as the preparation of loss reduction plans. The possibility of encouraging infrastructure development by setting up an institution (the National Economic and Social Infrastructure Bank) to channel resources into the sector has also been envisaged. In addition, the ANDE has drawn up plans for managing demand and promoting the use of electricity on the basis of energy security.

(...) Law No. 2.748/05 on the promotion of biofuel and its implementing Regulations (Decree No. 3.667/09) establish tax incentives for promoting the production of biofuels. (...)

The main objectives of the hydrocarbons subsector, as established by the National Energy Efficiency Plan, are to guarantee supplies and promote domestic production. With respect to the bioenergy subsector, the priorities are to help to promote the use of bioenergy and other alternative sources, in the interests of energy security, and to promote the development and diversification of domestic sources.

PETROPAR's mission is to supply hydrocarbons and biofuels in order to satisfy the requirements of the domestic market, while also prioritizing concern for the environment. Its main activities include: the production of petroleum and its products; the marketing, transport and distribution of hydrocarbons and their derivatives; the prospection and exploitation of petroleum deposits; and retail sales. PETROPAR does not have a monopoly on these activities. The hydrocarbons supplied by PETROPAR come from wholesale purchases abroad and biofuel (ethanol) from the sugarcane extraction process in its Mauricio José Troche (Guairá) plant. PETROPAR obtains supplies of petroleum products under supply contracts with companies that operate on the international market, via direct purchases or reverse auctions conducted electronically through the Directorate General of Government Procurement.

During the review period, Paraguay intensified its efforts to promote the use of absolute alcohol and fuel alcohol vehicles with a view to encouraging the production of traditional agricultural crops such as sugarcane, while reducing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Law No. 5.444/15 requires companies that sell gasoline to offer access within the national territory to pumps supplying at least 85 octane Flex fuel, consisting of 85% absolute alcohol and 15% gasoline. Moreover, less than 97 octane gasolines will have to be mixed with a maximum of 25% anhydrous ethanol. The Law states that the Government must implement tariff measures that incentivize the import of Flex type vehicles. In this connection, Decree No. 3.667/09 (zero tariff on imported Flex fuel vehicles) and Customs Resolution No. 82/16 (to access the customs duty established in Decree No. 3.667/09) were implemented. Moreover, vehicle and motorcycle assembly companies established in Paraguay must equip production lines for units with Flex fuel engines and State agencies and entities that purchase light and utility vehicles must include a minimum of 30% of vehicles that use Flex fuel.

In 2015, in order to promote the use of biofuels, a reference price for marketing type I biodiesel (₲5,000 per litre) was established. In the same year, it was made compulsory for biodiesel to be mixed with gas oil types II and III. In 2016, a maximum retail price was fixed for gas oil/diesel type III (₲4,290 as from 1 February 2016). PETROPAR's invoice price (ex plant sales price) for gas oil/diesel type III is fixed by government authorization. In 2016, the retail price was reduced to ₲4,290. Later, in the same year, the price was further reduced to ₲4,190.

SENATUR (the National Tourism Department) is responsible for formulating the National Tourism Plan, which contains strategies and tactics for the sustainable development of tourism. In addition, SENATUR is implementing other measures for promoting and developing the sector, such as the master plan for the sustainable development of Paraguay's tourism sector. The specific objectives of this programme envisage the strengthening and decentralization of tourism administration in the country, the generation of local capacity for the planning and sustainable management of tourism and the creation of the conditions necessary to promote a competitive and exportable supply of tourist destinations and products. (...)

Table A4. 1 Current MAG (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock) programmes, 2016
Programme/project Description
National Biofuels Programme (PNBIO) Seeks to increase the participation of biofuels in Paraguay's energy matrix. MAG provides technical assistance to sugar cane producers with a view to ethanol production.
Sustainable Rural Development Project (PRODERS) Technical assistance in the areas of planning, production and marketing for producers and members of indigenous communities.
Project for the Integration of Family Farming in Value Chains (PPI) Seeks to ensure the sustainable integration of family farming into value chains through representative social organizations, while taking into account gender sensitive and environmental concerns.
Modernization of Public Agricultural Support Management (PAGRO) Payments to assist producers in implementing certain techniques: liming, subsoiling, green manure, direct sowing, bio fertilizer, seed selection, grain conservation, and citrus tree planting. Action to combat leaf cutter ants. Introduction of irrigation systems with a view to improving soil fertility.
Programme to Promote Food Production through Family Farming (PPA) Seeks to ensure the sustainable integration of family farming into value chains through family farming organizations.
(...)

Sierra Leone aspires to reach middle level income by 2035 and a donor nation where extreme poverty would have been eradicated. By 2035, it aspires to be an inclusive, green, middle-income country with less than 5% of people seeking jobs. Sierra Leone aims to have a stable, export-led economy, based on sound macroeconomic fundamentals, with inflation close to 5% and Government revenues increased significantly to 35% of GDP. It seeks also to have a Private sector-led economy, creating value-added products, and providing jobs for its people. It desires to be a model in responsible and efficient natural resource exploitation among other things. Efforts in realizing this dream have begun by designing and implementing sound Government programmes in various sectors including energy, infrastructure, public financial management and private sector development.