Minister of Energy and Mines, Victor Hugo Ventura, ended his term in office this Thursday, July 2, and Erwin Rolando Barrios Torres, who served as vice minister, took office.
Ventura assumed office in January 2024, at the beginning of the current government.
According to the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), his management at the head of the portfolio was around 30 months.
Neither the MEM nor the Government reported the reasons for Ventura’s departure. However, in a letter written by Ventura and delivered to the institution’s workers, he detailed that he will become part of President Bernardo Arévalo’s body of advisors, if applicable, on national issues in the energy and mining sectors.
In a government statement it was reported that Ventura will take over as presidential advisor for strategic energy projectssy that “from that position, he will continue to work and contribute with his experience to the fulfillment of presidential objectives,” and highlighted that he has more than 40 years of experience in the energy sector of Guatemala and Mesoamerican countries.
Erwin Rolando Barrios Torres, who served as vice minister in charge of the Mining and Hydrocarbons Area, was appointed as the new Minister of Energy and Mines, the Government added.
It was added that Barrios has more than 25 years in the field of electrical energy distribution, transmission and generation projects, and has led public policies and strategic projects aimed at strengthening the Guatemalan energy system.
It transcends movements in the Economic Cabinet. On July 1, Víctor Hugo Ventura Ruiz left as Minister of Energy and Mines and president of the INDE board of directors. Erwin Barrios, current Vice Minister of Hydrocarbons, would be appointed to the position. @prensa_libre pic.twitter.com/KojTg1BPSR
— Urías Gamarro (@ugamarro_pl) July 2, 2026
Meanwhile, the MEM mentioned some of the actions in the portfolio during Ventura’s management:
- The 40-year cycle of oil exploitation in the Laguna del Tigre National Park concluded, after the contract under Perenco Guatemala expired
- The bidding processes were reactivated, such as the fifth bidding event with long-term contracts of the Generation Expansion Plan (PEG-5), which was worked on by the distributors, and the third bidding event to expand the PET-3 transmission network (although this was not awarded).
- He chaired the National Institute of Electrification (INDE), and according to information from the MEM, during his administration financing of US$370 million was achieved for rural electrification projects; standards were promoted to implement microgrids and isolated solutions in hard-to-reach communities
- It was up to his administration in the MEM to continue with the process for the implementation of ethanol (E10) in gasoline, for which the regulatory framework was updated to mandatory incorporate the mixture of 10% ethanol in gasoline, as part of the energy transition strategy
- According to the MEM, during its management the socio-environmental evaluation and consultation processes for energy and mining projects were strengthened, “despite the limitations faced by the Vice Ministry of Sustainable Development.” It must be remembered that Luis Pacheco, who is vice minister of that area, has been in prison since April 2025 and is suspended from work.
- During the Ventura administration, the Probity Unit was created and implemented mechanisms to strengthen transparency and integrity in the management of the MEM, according to the institution