Electricity transmission in Colombia: 2025 overview

The Colombian electricity transmission sector faces a structural backlog as generation capacity is projected to grow from 20.9 GW to 38.9 GW by 2030. The National Interconnected System (SIN) is nearing operational limits, with less than 5% capacity available and 90% of substations expected to exhaust short-circuit interrupting capacity within five years. Implementation is a critical hurdle, with 55% of current transmission projects delayed, some by up to 12 years, due to socio-environmental issues and planning misalignments. To address this, the Master Plan for Modernization and Expansion identifies 98 strategic works, 44 of which could resolve 149 operational constraints by 2037. Additionally, the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) adopted a Territorial Engagement Model in 2025 to better integrate socio-environmental and cultural criteria into planning.

• Colombia's electricity generation capacity is expected to increase significantly, rising from a total installed capacity of 20.9 GW to a projected 38.9 GW by 2030, including 18 GW already approved.
• The National Interconnected System (SIN) is nearing its operational limits, with available transmission capacity below 5% and 90% of substations predicted to exhaust their short-circuit interrupting capacity within five years, threatening the integration of new generation projects.
• Project implementation is a major sector challenge, with 55% of the 20 active transmission projects delayed; specific examples include Bacatá-Norte (12-year delay) and Sogamoso Norte-Nueva Esperanza (10-year delay). These delays stem from licensing difficulties, socio-environmental factors, and poor alignment between national energy and land-use planning.
• The Master Plan for Modernization and Expansion of the Electrical Transmission Infrastructure identifies 98 strategic works, noting that completing 44 of these would resolve 149 operational constraints projected for the 2024-2037 period.
• In 2025, the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) implemented the Territorial Engagement Model to incorporate cultural, socio-environmental, and planning criteria into the electricity sector.

APA

Sáenz, G., & Araújo, J. V. (2026). Electricity transmission in Colombia: 2025 overview. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/publications/electricity-transmission-colombia-2025-overview/

Chicago

Sáenz, Germán, and José Vega Araújo. Electricity transmission in Colombia: 2025 overview. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2026. https://www.sei.org/publications/electricity-transmission-colombia-2025-overview/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sáenz |first1=Germán |last2=Araújo |first2=José Vega |title=Electricity transmission in Colombia: 2025 overview |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=4 June 2026 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/electricity-transmission-colombia-2025-overview/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{senz2026electricity, author = {Sáenz, Germán and Araújo, José Vega}, title = {{Electricity transmission in Colombia: 2025 overview}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2026}, month = jun, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/electricity-transmission-colombia-2025-overview/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }