2024-09-27 12:35:27
By 2025, Ecopetrol has already signed contracts that guarantee the delivery of 551 Giga BTU per day (GBTUD), which represents 65% of national demand, not counting thermal demand.
Of these volumes, the company will need around 40 GBTUD, equivalent to 17% of its total demandfor its own energy balance, thus ensuring the supply of fuel in the country.
Outlook for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, Ecopetrol plans to deliver 370 GBTUD to the Colombian market, covering 43% of national demand. Additionally, it has additional volumes of up to 141 GBTUD, which may be marketed once the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG) implement new rules to make transactions between agents more flexible. Meeting demand, above the contracted quantities, will continue to be covered by imports through the existing infrastructure.
The development of new projects, both in exploration and infrastructure, will be key. Ecopetrol continues to invest in onshore exploratory activities, with the potential to produce approximately 55 additional GBTUD by 2026.
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One of the greatest potentials for gas supply is found in offshore fields in the Caribbean Sea.where the findings could multiply the current gas reserves in the country by 33. However, to take full advantage of these resources, the company emphasizes the importance of making regulations more flexible, allowing Ecopetrol to market its gas available on the market in terms of less than one year. This would complement the regulatory changes advanced in 2024.
Furthermore, the expansion of SPEC LNG’s platform, which will add 30 GBTUD to its import capacity by 2025, will be crucial to ensure the stability of gas supply in the short term.. It is also imperative to advance projects such as the bidirectionality of the Barranquilla-Ballena system, which should come into operation in 2026.
In its long-term strategy, Ecopetrol is also committed to the development of electricity generation projects from renewable sources. These projects would help reduce pressure on the natural gas sector, allowing for the gradual substitution of liquid fuels in electricity production. The company highlights the need to overcome the social and environmental challenges that currently slow down the development of these clean energies.
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