Technical and Strategic Visit to Gecelca Administrative Headquarters: Energy Management and Operations

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On September 3, 2025, the IEEE Power & Energy Society Student Branch Chapter at Universidad del Norte organized a technical and strategic visit to the administrative headquarters of Gecelca, one of Colombia's leading power generation companies. The activity took place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the ninth floor of the Centro Ejecutivo II building, located at Carrera 55 # 72-109 in Barranquilla. A total of 18 students attended, engaging directly with senior executives of the organization in an exchange designed to complement their technical education with a strategic and institutional perspective on the energy sector.

Objectives and Context

The visit was conceived as an opportunity to expose students to the organizational and managerial dimensions of large-scale energy operations — aspects that are rarely covered in depth within traditional engineering curricula. Gecelca, as a major player in Colombia's power generation landscape, provided an ideal setting to understand how technical decisions are embedded within broader corporate, regulatory, and commercial frameworks. The chapter coordinated the activity with the goal of offering participants a holistic view of the industry beyond the engineering fundamentals.

Development and Technical Content

The session was guided by three senior professionals from Gecelca's executive team. Ronald James Howard Munévar, Vice President of Generation, addressed the operational and planning dimensions of power plant management, covering optimization programs, operational scheduling, and the standards required to guarantee reliability and quality in energy generation. Karen Henríquez Leal, Vice President of Commercialization, presented the processes behind energy commercialization, commercial and energy planning, and billing operations — offering students a window into the market-facing side of the power sector. Irma Valdéz, Director of Human Resources, complemented the technical content by addressing talent development, organizational structure, and the professional pathways available within the energy industry for young engineers.

Outcomes and Impact

The visit allowed 18 participants to engage in direct dialogue with decision-makers at one of Colombia's most relevant energy companies. Students gained firsthand insight into how engineering expertise translates into strategic and operational leadership, and how regulatory compliance, market dynamics, and corporate governance shape the day-to-day functioning of the national power system. The interaction with professionals across generation, commercialization, and human resources gave participants a multidimensional understanding of the sector that goes well beyond what laboratory or classroom settings can offer.

The technical visit to Gecelca's administrative headquarters reflects the IEEE PES Student Branch Chapter's ongoing commitment to connecting its members with the realities of the professional world. By facilitating direct access to senior industry leaders, the chapter reinforced its role as a bridge between academic formation and the strategic demands of the modern energy sector in Colombia.


  Date and Time

  Location

  Hosts

  Registration


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  • Starts 25 August 2025 05:00 AM UTC
  • Ends 28 August 2025 06:30 PM UTC
  • 2 in-person spaces left!
  • No Admission Charge

  Speakers

Ronald of Gecelca — Vice President of Generation

Topic:

Operational Management and Reliability in Power Generation

The speaker addressed plant optimization programs, operational planning and execution, and the standards required to ensure reliability and quality in energy generation within Colombia's national grid. That between the Gecelca context

Karen of Gecelca — Vice President of Commercialization

Topic:

Energy Commercialization and Market Strategy

The speaker presented on the processes of energy commercialization, commercial and energy planning, and billing operations, offering participants a comprehensive view of the market-facing and regulatory dimensions of power sector management.


Irma of Gecelca — Director of Human Resources

Topic:

Talent Development and Professional Pathways in the Energy Sector

The speaker discussed organizational structure, talent development strategies, and the professional opportunities available to young engineers entering the energy industry.




Agenda

  • 08:30 AM – 09:00 AM: Arrival and Security Briefing.

  • 09:00 AM – 09:30 AM: Corporate Overview: Gecelca’s Role in the National Interconnected System (SIN).

  • 09:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Guided Tour of Administrative Departments (Energy Trading, Project Management, and Environmental Strategy).

  • 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: Interactive Panel: "Challenges in Modern Energy Management" with Gecelca Executives.

  • 11:45 AM – 12:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Networking Session.