LNG buildout undermines energy transition goals

Colombia is planning at least nine major LNG import terminal projects and expansions between 2026 and 2030, which would create a capacity of approximately 2,500 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d). This figure is more than double the government's projected gas demand of 1,000 MMcf/d for 2030. The report warns that such an overbuild could lead to stranded assets, lock the country into long-term fossil fuel contracts, and divert resources from renewables and energy efficiency. While the country faces a domestic gas deficit and energy security challenges exacerbated by El Niño and geopolitical tensions, the document suggests that near-term needs could be met without overbuilding infrastructure, aligning instead with a roadmap to reduce fossil fuel dependence and emissions by 90% by 2050.

• Colombia's planned LNG import capacity for 2030 is projected to be around 2,500 MMcf/d, which is more than twice the government's projected gas demand of 1,000 MMcf/d for the same year.
• At least nine major LNG import terminal projects and expansions are planned to start operations between 2026 and 2030, though only two are currently under construction and none have reached Final Investment Decision (FID).
• The existing SPEC LNG terminal in Cartagena provides 425 MMcf/d and is expected to increase by 58 MMcf/d by 2027, meaning it alone could provide nearly half of the country's total gas demand by that time.
• Industrial gas consumption in Colombia fell by 28% in the first four months of 2026, with 50% of that demand shifting to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and 20% to coal.
• A roadmap from the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels indicates Colombia could reduce emissions and fossil fuel dependence by 90% by 2050.

APA

Llano, A. (2026). LNG buildout undermines energy transition goals. Global Energy Monitor. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/GEM%20Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief-June-2026.pdf

Chicago

Llano, Amalia. LNG buildout undermines energy transition goals. Global Energy Monitor, 2026. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/GEM%20Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief-June-2026.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Llano |first1=Amalia |title=LNG buildout undermines energy transition goals |publisher=Global Energy Monitor |date=11 June 2026 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/GEM%20Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief-June-2026.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{llano2026lng, author = {Llano, Amalia}, title = {{LNG buildout undermines energy transition goals}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/2026-06/GEM%20Colombia%27s%20planned%20gas%20glut%20brief-June-2026.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }