The Race Against Time: Tackling Colombia’s Gas Crisis
Colombia is gearing up for a high-stakes energy showdown. With a looming natural gas deficit predicted to hit as early as 2025, the country is pulling out all the stops to secure its energy future. At the heart of this strategy is a groundbreaking $1.37 billion investment by Ecopetrol, Colombia’s state-owned energy giant, aimed at shoring up the nation’s gas supply and avoiding a potential energy crisis.
The latest move? A major contract awarded to Puertos, Inversiones y Obras (PIO) to build cutting-edge regasification facilities along Colombia’s Pacific Coast. These facilities, set to launch in Q2 2026, will include a state-of-the-art regasification plant in Buga with a capacity of 60 million cubic feet per day (mcfd), alongside storage and receipt infrastructure in Buenaventura.
Why Regasification is Colombia’s New Lifeline
Regasification—the process of converting liquefied natural gas (LNG) back into its gaseous form—is becoming Colombia’s secret weapon in the fight against energy scarcity. With offshore gas projects still years away from fruition, the country is turning to LNG imports to bridge the gap. The new Pacific Coast facilities will not only diversify Colombia’s energy supply but also ensure that natural gas reaches over 40 million Colombians, particularly in the country’s interior.
But this isn’t just about keeping the lights on. Ecopetrol’s investment signals a broader commitment to energy sustainability and stability. The company is also doubling down on exploration, with plans to drill for new gas reserves over the next three years. This comes on the heels of a massive offshore gas discovery in late 2023, hailed as Colombia’s “most significant gas discovery ever,” in partnership with Petrobras.
The Andes Energy Terminal: A Game-Changer in the Making
Buenaventura isn’t just home to the new regasification facilities—it’s also the site of the Andes Energy Terminal (AET), a planned LNG hub that could transform Colombia’s energy landscape. Black & Veatch, a global engineering leader, completed a feasibility study for the AET in May 2024, paving the way for what could become a cornerstone of Colombia’s energy infrastructure.
Together, these projects represent a bold, forward-thinking approach to energy security. By investing in regasification and LNG infrastructure, Colombia is not just addressing its immediate gas shortage—it’s laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable energy future.
