As a result of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a considerable increase in international energy prices has been generated, a situation that implies structural impacts on their prices at a global level, as is the case of thermal coal, whose values have reached maximum levels above US$400/ton, which represents an impact on future energy contracts that are being projected for the medium term.
Colombia is no stranger to this international energy crisis. Particularly with regard to the energy market, it is initially impacted on two fronts: higher prices of LNG for thermal generation from imported natural gas and higher prices of thermal coal in the local market for generation. international.
Although the consumption of coal for thermal generation in the country it has never exceeded more than 5 million tons/year, with the current situation of international prices that has shown a global shortage of the mineral, its sale abroad has been encouraged. This, in turn, has led to the insufficiency of this fuel for thermal generation plants in the country, increasing their costs.
This situation will undoubtedly affect the competitiveness of electricity rates in the market in the medium term and generation prices in the energy market; Even though coal-fired thermal plants today have an inventory in storage yards that allows them to meet fuel needs Between 10 and 25 days for the generation process.
Given the importance of coal as a reference energy source for the country’s electricity market, particularly with respect to the price of energy contracts, it is essential that the National Government study measures that give priority to the supply of this fuel for consumption. local in the midst of this situation.
For Alejandro Castañeda, executive director of Andeg, “Coal is essential for the diversification, reliability and competitiveness of the electricity system, especially in the framework of the energy transition policies promoted by the National Government, where this mineral will be important to evaluate the adoption of new technologies that allow it to be used sustainably future. Even with the current crisis, leading countries in the energy transition are reincorporating coal into their electricity matrices around this discussion”.
BRIEFCASE
