La expansión del GNL socava los objetivos de la transición energética

This briefing by Global Energy Monitor examines Colombia's planned expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) import infrastructure, arguing that the projected capacity far exceeds the country's actual energy needs and could undermine its energy transition goals.

• Colombia is planning an LNG import capacity that could reach approximately 2,500 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) by 2030, which is more than double the government's projected gas demand for that year. This plan involves at least nine new projects and major expansions of import terminals scheduled to operate between 2026 and 2030.
• The Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (UPME) estimates that normal gas demand will be around 1,000 MMcf/d by 2030, with a projected continuous gas deficit increasing from 200 MMcf/d to 500 MMcf/d by the same year. Current industrial gas consumption is declining, with a 28% drop in the first four months of 2026, leading users to switch to liquefied petroleum gas (GLP), coal, fuel oil, and sugarcane bagasse.
• Existing and planned infrastructure could meet Colombia's needs without further over-expansion. The SPEC LNG terminal in Cartagena currently provides about 425 MMcf/d and is expected to increase by 58 MMcf/d by 2027. Additionally, the Puerto Bahía LNG terminal and the Coveñas FSRU are being accelerated to provide 400 MMcf/d by 2029 and 2030, respectively.
• Over-investing in LNG infrastructure risks creating stranded assets and locking Colombia into expensive, volatile energy sources. This could divert resources from renewable energy, electrification, and energy efficiency, and potentially force consumers toward more polluting alternatives like coal and fuel oil if LNG costs remain high.
• A roadmap from the First International Conference for Transition beyond Fossil Fuels suggests Colombia could reduce its fossil fuel dependence and emissions by 90% by 2050. However, the country remains dependent on fossil fuel infrastructure and revenues, including oil and gas royalties, and faces pressure to reactivate production, including through fracking, to address energy security and fiscal concerns.

APA

Llano, A. (2026). La expansión del GNL socava los objetivos de la transición energética. Global Energy Monitor. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief%20-%20Spanish.pdf

Chicago

Llano, Amalia. La expansión del GNL socava los objetivos de la transición energética. Global Energy Monitor, 2026. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief%20-%20Spanish.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Llano |first1=Amalia |title=La expansión del GNL socava los objetivos de la transición energética |publisher=Global Energy Monitor |date=11 June 2026 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief%20-%20Spanish.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{llano2026expansin, author = {Llano, Amalia}, title = {{La expansión del GNL socava los objetivos de la transición energética}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief%20-%20Spanish.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }