We had plans to visit one of South America's most impressive engineering achievements during our recent trip to Paraguay.
Unfortunately, some very important American officials had other ideas…
As many of you know, I've just spent the last nine days in Paraguay, leading nearly 30 members of our Expat Money community on an Exploration & Investment Tour.
Beyond the Plan-B business and investment aspects of these tours, one of the things I look forward to most is exploring the country's most impressive and economically important landmarks.
One place we make a point of visiting on every tour to Paraguay is the Itaipu Dam.
If you've never heard of it, Itaipu is a gigantic hydroelectric facility on the border between Paraguay and Brazil, and one of South America's most important pieces of infrastructure.
It's also the world's largest hydroelectric power plant in terms of cumulative electricity generation.
Understanding this facility is key to understanding why Paraguay's economic future looks so promising.
Abundant, inexpensive renewable energy gives the country a significant competitive advantage, particularly when it comes to attracting businesses in energy-intensive industries.
When your profitability depends heavily on keeping energy costs under control, even modest savings can make a meaningful difference to your bottom line.