Gas
Colombia expands LNG imports amid domestic gas decline and El Nino risks
Colombia faces declining domestic natural gas output and rising reliance on liquefied natural gas imports as El Nino threatens hydroelectric generation.
Key points
- Domestic marketed natural gas production in Colombia dropped significantly between 2022 and 2025.
- Proved natural gas reserves experienced a sharp reduction over the same multi-year period.
- LNG imports reached a notable high in July 2026, driven by shrinking local supply.
- Infrastructure expansions are underway to bolster import capacity ahead of projected dry conditions.
What happened
Colombia is increasing its purchases of liquefied natural gas as domestic extraction levels decrease, according to Hellenic Shipping News and IndexBox reporting. Official figures from Gestor del Mercado de Gas Natural en Colombia show that marketed output dropped from an annual average of 1,070 million cubic feet per day in 2022 down to 772 million cubic feet per day by 2025. During the first eight months of 2026, extraction shrank further to an average of 673 million cubic feet daily.
Major producing fields, including Cusiana, Cupiagua, Pauto Sur, and offshore Guajira assets, have experienced consistent depletion since 2022 without sufficient new discoveries to offset the losses. Figures from the National Hydrocarbons Agency indicate that proved reserves fell by 39 percent to 1.7 trillion cubic feet across the 2022 to 2025 timeframe. In response to these supply constraints, imported LNG surged, supplying a record 31 percent of the nation's monthly gas demand in July 2026.
Infrastructure and weather pressures
To manage the growing deficit, terminal operators are expanding receiving capacity. The country's sole operational import facility, SPEC LNG near Cartagena, has scheduled expansion work for completion around late October 2026, according to Promigas. Additionally, the Buenaventura project aims for a November 2026 launch, while Puerto Bahia and Ballenas terminals are slated for potential operations the following year.
These supply adjustments coincide with forecasts of an intensifying El Nino event. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued an advisory noting an 83 percent probability of a strong pattern persisting into early 2027. Meteorological projections anticipate reduced rainfall across northern South America from December through February, which typically suppresses hydroelectric output. During the previous strong El Nino period of 2023 and 2024, thermal generation from natural gas and coal expanded significantly to compensate for diminished water levels.
Why it matters
For energy investors and policymakers, Colombia's supply shift highlights the vulnerability of energy matrices that rely heavily on hydro generation when facing meteorological disruptions. With World Bank figures noting that the country's electricity consumption stood at 1,636.5 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, maintaining grid stability requires swift logistical adjustments and infrastructure investments. The rapid transition toward imported LNG in South America offers a comparative lesson for emerging energy markets in Africa, where domestic supply constraints and climatic shifts can similarly strain power generation and compel rapid diversification toward alternative fuels and flexible import solutions.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
13.3% of electricity in Colombia came from gas in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
