He Minister of Mines and Energy, Andrés Camacho, ruled out that Colombia will import gas from Venezuela. During a motion of censure debate to which he was summoned in the House of Representatives, he said that based on the current panorama, “there is no possibility of importing”.
(We suggest: Creg issued resolutions that allow the expansion of gas transportation infrastructure)
It is worth noting that this It is one of the options that Ecopetrol was analyzing to supply the market local in the face of supply shortage alerts is related to bringing this energy from the neighboring country.
However, the Minister said that “the existing gas pipeline suffered significant damage; about two kilometers They broke down and can no longer be used.“, and emphasized that, “From a political, technical and financial perspective, importing Venezuelan gas is unfeasible.”.
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This is the first time that the Government recognizes the difficulty in using the Antonio Ricaurte gas pipeline to import energyIn fact, a few days ago, Ricardo Roa, president of Ecopetrol, recalled that this is one of the alternatives they are working on to supply the market in the coming years.
Amid this setback, the analysis of alternatives is now focused on other solutions now from regulatory perspectives, as well as other options for purchasing abroad. Roa said that they already received Eight proposals for a process of requesting information from the market to analyze regasification options of liquefied natural gas.
Among the options they have received, the country could obtain this energy from nations such as the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, among othersThese proposals are currently being studied to determine which would offer the best conditions.
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The company noted that In the second half of the year, the contract for the chosen proposal would be signed. and in this way there are quick alternatives to respond to market needs.
Natural gas
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Other options
Roa pointed out that Other alternatives are being studied, including reducing Ecopetrol’s domestic consumption. through efficiencies that allow some quantities to be released to the market.
However, Portafolio learned that the possibility of releasing the regasification capacity that Spec has is being studied, the only regasification plant in the country and its capacity is compromised for the Thermal Group.
(Besides: Energy policy: why there will be a gas deficit in the coming years, according to Cree)
According to the known information, the talks are geared towards possibility that thermal plants that can switch to other energy sources do son so that the compromised gas is released.
This is because other options, such as a Increasing local production is very complexsince already By 2025, it is estimated that there will be a 12% shortage and that it will increase to 30% in 2026, according to calculations by Naturgás, the sector’s trade association.
Sources told Portafolio that this It would require decisions from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (Creg) so that greater regasification capacity could be available to the market.
(Suggested: Ecopetrol confirms from which countries it would import gas to address the deficit)
Regarding thisOr, Alejandro Castañeda, president of Andeg, pointed out that generation plants such as Tebsa and Candelaria could not change fuel, since they operate solely using gas, precisely because they have acquired the right to exclusive use of Spec.
According to Castaneda, For next year, the surplus from the regasification plant will be sufficient to supply the needs of the market.What could happen, Castañeda said, is that prices could rise due to pressure on the balance of supply and demand.
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Termocandelaria launches combined cycle closure project.
Regulation
Meanwhile, recently the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commissions (Creg) published three resolutions to the market, through which it seeks to promote the expansion of the infrastructure natural gas transportation.
“Decisions include approving revenues to expand and improve natural gas infrastructure and adjusting the remuneration methodology for gas transportation.“, the entity said.
Similarly, the Commission reported thatand a revenue stream was established to pay for infrastructure works approved by the Ministry of Mines and Energy in the current Natural Gas Supply Plan.
(Read also: Gas shortage too imminent for local production to cover, says Rystad)
ANDAmong the outstanding works are those approved for the company TGI, which include the expansion of the section’s capacity Ladybug – Gualanday (CREG Resolution 502 061 of 2024), the expansion of the Jamundí – Cauca Valley branch (CREG Resolution 502 063 of 2024) and the Two-way reliability work Barrancabermeja – Ballena (CREG Resolution 502 062 of 2024).
He The market has asked for other measures to be introduced, such as flexibility in marketing conditions natural gas, which could allow for swap agreements to be reached to supply the market next year.
Daniela Morales Soler
Portfolio Journalist
