Caso Barrancabermeja Análisis de potenciales impactos en la cadena de valor de hidrocarburos debido a la Transición Energética

This fact sheet summarizes the results of a participatory workshop held in August 2023 in Barrancabermeja, Colombia. The initiative, led by Transforma, aimed to analyze the perspectives of local actors regarding the hydrocarbon value chain and identify the challenges and opportunities associated with a Just Energy Transition in a region heavily dependent on the oil industry.

• Barrancabermeja exhibits a high level of economic dependence on the oil industry, which serves as its primary economic driver. In 2019, the municipality's total value added was nearly 16 trillion pesos, with secondary activities accounting for 65%. Furthermore, approximately 80% of the activity of other local companies in the service and commerce sectors is strongly linked to oil activities.
• Oil royalties in Barrancabermeja saw a significant decrease between 2019 and 2020, dropping from 347 billion to 208 billion pesos. This decline was attributed to lower production levels and lower international prices. In 2020, the city received 64.6% of the total royalties for the department of Santander and 5.5% of the national total.
• Local participants identified several opportunities for economic diversification in Barrancabermeja and the wider Santander region. These include regenerative agriculture (specifically cacao and coffee clusters), a logistics and transport cluster, the incorporation of renewable fuels like green diesel and SAF via co-processing or dedicated plants, the use of low-emission hydrogen from the Barrancabermeja Refinery, and the creation of a Carbon Capture, Storage, and Use (CCUS) hub centered on the refinery.
• The transition to clean energy is perceived as a means to protect endangered flora, fauna, and water resources. In Santander, natural forests cover approximately 49.18% of the total area, and the middle Magdalena valley region contains approximately 846,729 hectares of priority dry forests across several municipalities, including Barrancabermeja, Puerto Wilches, Sabana de Torres, Simacota, Puerto Parra, Cimitarra, and Bolívar.
• Participants expressed significant concerns regarding the speed and nature of the energy transition. Specifically, they warned that an abrupt prohibition of crude oil exploration and exploitation could harm the national economy, and an unplanned transition could turn Barrancabermeja into a center for displacement.
• The document recommends that the local government promote active community leadership in decision-making and establish strategic alliances with academic entities and local organizations such as ProBarrancabermeja and the Centro de Estudios Regionales (CER) to ensure the transition is implemented effectively.

APA

Mejía, L. F., Hernández, V. V., & Restrepo, G. P. (n.d.). Caso Barrancabermeja Análisis de potenciales impactos en la cadena de valor de hidrocarburos debido a la Transición Energética. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20230708-Cartilla_cadenas_de_valor-VF_Transforma.pdf

Chicago

Mejía, Laura Flechas, Verónica Valencia Hernández, and Giovanni Pabón Restrepo. Caso Barrancabermeja Análisis de potenciales impactos en la cadena de valor de hidrocarburos debido a la Transición Energética. Transforma, n.d. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20230708-Cartilla_cadenas_de_valor-VF_Transforma.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Mejía |first1=Laura Flechas |last2=Hernández |first2=Verónica Valencia |last3=Restrepo |first3=Giovanni Pabón |title=Caso Barrancabermeja Análisis de potenciales impactos en la cadena de valor de hidrocarburos debido a la Transición Energética |publisher=Transforma |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20230708-Cartilla_cadenas_de_valor-VF_Transforma.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{mejandcaso, author = {Mejía, Laura Flechas and Hernández, Verónica Valencia and Restrepo, Giovanni Pabón}, title = {{Caso Barrancabermeja Análisis de potenciales impactos en la cadena de valor de hidrocarburos debido a la Transición Energética}}, institution = {Transforma}, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/20230708-Cartilla_cadenas_de_valor-VF_Transforma.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }