Archives

  • Colombia secures energy

    Colombia has successfully concluded three recent energy reconfiguration auctions that guarantee the country’s energy supply through 2028, while marking a significant step toward cleaner, more diversified generation.

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  • Inspector’s Office criticizes Superservicios

    Inspector General’s Office raised serious concerns over the handling of the intervention into power company Air-e by the Superintendence of Public Utilities (Superservicios).

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  • ISA targets UPME projects

    ISA (Interconexión Eléctrica S.A.) announced its intention to participate in a new round of energy transmission projects led by the country’s energy planning authority, UPME.

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  • Alpha and Beta wind equipment on sale

    EDP Renewables (EDPR) has begun dismantling its Alpha and Beta wind farms in La Guajira, Colombia, following its December 2024 decision to abandon both projects. This move is part of the company’s broader withdrawal from the Colombian market, driven by regulatory delays, market constraints, and stalled government-issued permits, most notably a long-overdue environmental license.

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  • Leading Brands in EV sales

    Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Colombia are experiencing a historic boom.

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  • Energy security at risk

    The sustainability of Colombia’s energy system is under increasing pressure, driven by a combination of structural, financial, and regulatory challenges.

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  • ISA investments

    Colombian energy infrastructure giant Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. (ISA) kicked off 2025 with a robust investment performance.

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  • Solar panel subsidy

    In Colombia, both the government and certain family compensation funds are offering financial support and subsidies to help low-income households install solar photovoltaic systems.

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  • ISA 1Q25 results

    Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. (ISA) reported strong financial and operational results for the first quarter of 2025.

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    • Energy
    • May 12, 2025 10:33 PM

    Controlled energy consumption?

    The city of Sincelejo, Colombia, is preparing to launch a pilot project aimed at helping residents manage their electricity usage according to their economic capabilities.

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    • Energy
    • May 12, 2025 10:32 PM

    Possible blackouts

    Colombia’s energy sector is facing a mounting crisis, particularly in the Caribbean region, where the financial instability of utility company Air-e is raising fears of an imminent blackout.

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  • Colombia solar lights up the Caribbean

    In a significant stride toward energy transition and economic relief, more than 400,000 families in Colombia’s Caribbean region could benefit from the first phase of the “Colombia Solar for Popular Economies” program, an initiative launched by the national government to promote clean energy use and reduce electricity costs in low-income communities.

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  • EPM 1Q25 financial results

    EPM reported record-breaking financial results for the first quarter of 2025.

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  • La Guajira project licensed

    The National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA) granted the environmental license for the “Electric line to connect Beta and Alpha wind farms to Cuestecitas Substation” project, located in the municipalities of Uribia, Maicao, and Albania in the department of La Guajira, Colombia.

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  • Colombia expands grid

    During the first quarter of 2025, Colombia integrated 17 new energy projects into the National Interconnected System (SIN), aiming to strengthen the country's power supply and diversify its energy matrix.

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  • Air-e crisis deepens

    During a Senate Fifth Commission debate on electricity tariffs, Senator José David Name strongly criticized the management of the electricity distribution company Air-e and called for the resignation of Public Services Superintendent Yanod Márquez.

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  • A blackout like Spain?

    Recently, Spain experienced a widespread blackout that left large parts of the country, as well as neighboring Portugal and southern France, without electricity for nearly 10 hours.

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  • National energy efficiency awards

    At the 11th edition of the National Energy Efficiency Awards, four organizations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to advancing energy efficiency in Colombia.

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  • Energy savings initiative

    The Colombian government officially launched “Caribe, Cambia Tu Energía” (“Caribbean, Change Your Energy”), a major energy efficiency initiative that will benefit more than 200,000 low- and middle-income households (strata 1, 2, and 3) in the Caribbean region.

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  • First bioclimatic greenhouse

    In a meaningful step toward sustainability and environmental development, Afinia, a subsidiary of Grupo EPM, inaugurated its first bioclimatic greenhouse in Cartagena.

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  • Risk of missing 2030 decarbonization goals

    Colombia is falling behind on its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030, according to a new report by the Regional Center for Energy Studies (CREE).

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  • “Without transmission, there will be no transition”: GEB says

    At the LR Forum on Renewable Energy and Its Impact on the Future, a key panel titled “Green Financing: Incentives and Investment Models for Sustainable Projects” brought together voices from across the energy and finance sectors to discuss how Colombia can accelerate its energy transition.

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  • Efficient energy tariffs

    Fanny Guerrero, an electrical engineer and now one of the top technical voices in Colombia’s national energy policy, became a commissioned expert at the CREG in July 2024, aiming to promote fair and efficient energy tariffs, especially in the Caribbean region where high energy costs have long been a concern.

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  • Do we have the capacity?

    A number of observers worry that Colombia will run out of generating capacity in 2026 or 2027. The ministry, of course, says it has everything under control. The president thinks the answer is rooftop solar even in rainy, high-rise, Bogotá. What does the data say?

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  • “More energy supply is needed,” Isagen says

    Colombian energy generation and commercialization company Isagen has set out an ambitious investment strategy aiming to add up to 1,300 megawatts (MW) of capacity by 2028.

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  • Challenge to redesign wind turbines

    In a bold move to rethink the visual and environmental footprint of renewable energy, Enel has launched WinDesign, a global innovation challenge seeking fresh ideas that merge functionality, aesthetics, innovation, and sustainability in wind turbine design.

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  • South America’s largest solar park

    The longstanding relationship between Colombia and the Netherlands continues to flourish, with both countries deepening their collaboration in sustainability, trade, and innovation.

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  • Fitch on Air-e debt

    Fitch Ratings raised concerns over the growing financial risks stemming from the Colombian government's intervention in Air-e.

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  • Colombia harnesses wind

    Colombia’s energy transition continues to gain momentum, and while solar power often dominates the headlines, wind energy is quietly beginning to take root, especially in the breezy expanses of La Guajira and Magdalena.

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  • Powering Caribbean progress

    Since taking over the energy service in Colombia’s Caribbean region in October 2020, Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) has injected CoP$2.8T into its subsidiary Afinia, aiming to improve service quality and secure energy supply across the departments of Bolívar, Sucre, Córdoba, Cesar, and parts of Magdalena.

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  • Verano demands action

    Eduardo Verano, Governor of Atlántico, issued a strong appeal to Colombian President Gustavo Petro, urging immediate action to resolve the growing energy crisis threatening the Caribbean region.

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  • Energy crisis tensions

    The ongoing dispute between the Colombian government and the National Association of Public Utility Companies (Andesco) has intensified amid growing concerns over an energy crisis.

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  • Agrivoltaics energy community

    In a groundbreaking move for sustainable development in Colombia’s Pacific region, 115 families from the Bocas del Palo Black Communities Council in Jamundí, Valle del Cauca, now benefit from a pioneering agrivoltaics system, the country’s first pilot energy community in this coastal region.

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  • Colombia at the mercy of the weather

    Colombia’s energy security is hanging by a thread, or rather, by a cloud.

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  • State utilities exit Andesco

    A growing clash between Colombia’s government and energy sector stakeholders reached a new level.

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  • Energy price cap draft released

    The Colombian government published a draft decree aimed at capping electricity prices in the country, to alleviate the financial burden of rising energy costs on households across all socioeconomic levels.

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  • Electric grids 2040

    As global energy demand accelerates due to rapid technological growth, Hitachi Energy issued a stark warning.

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  • AI trends shaping the energy sector in 2025

    Accenture’s Technology Vision 2025 study explores a pivotal shift in the energy industry, where artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a tool but a transformative force.

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  • Rethinking long-term energy policy

    A growing number of industry associations in Colombia are urging the national government to engage in a serious, respectful dialogue to address the country’s increasingly critical energy situation.

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  • Targeted subsidy reform

    Colombia is grappling with a deepening crisis in its energy and gas subsidy system. As financial pressures mount, both academic and industry leaders are calling for structural reforms, particularly a shift from the outdated socioeconomic stratification system to a more precise mechanism for subsidy targeting: the Sisbén score.

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  • Wholesale energy price drops

    In March 2025, Colombia’s wholesale electricity market experienced a significant price decline.

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  • Disputed scarcity prices

    A legal challenge has been filed before Colombia’s State Council, seeking the provisional suspension of Resolution 101 066 issued on November 18, 2024, by the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (CREG).

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  • Leadership change at Hydrogen Colombia

    The Board of Directors of the Hydrogen Colombia Association announced that Mónica Gasca will step down as President of the association, effective June 6, 2025.

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  • April showers

    April showers allowed XM to continue to use hydro but still see reservoir levels rise. Updating our fundamental daily-data charts on generation and reservoirs.

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  • Workers and Energy Transition

    As Colombia advances in its commitment to a cleaner energy future, labor leaders in the mining and energy sectors are sounding the alarm about the social costs of this transformation.

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  • Mounting debts threaten energy supply

    Since November, Colombian electricity distributor Air-e has stopped paying its debts to power generators.

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  • Public services reform in Colombia

    Nearly three years into President Gustavo Petro’s administration, the much-anticipated public services reform remains absent from Colombia’s congressional agenda.

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  • “Living without energy is a tragedy”

    After nearly four decades in the tech industry, William Corredor, CEO and founder of Open Intelligence, knows a thing or two about the essential nature of public utilities. His company, a Colombian software firm with a 38-year history, specializes in solutions for customer service, billing, collections, work orders, installations, and maintenance in public utilities.

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  • Credit line to boost solar projects

    Bancóldex, in collaboration with the National Infrastructure Development Fund (Fondes), has launched the 'Energía Solar se Reactiva' program to support Colombia’s energy transition and the expansion of solar energy projects.

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  • Nexans’ warning

    In recent weeks, global markets have been rattled by a new wave of tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, triggering a fresh commercial war that could have significant consequences for multiple industries, including renewable energy.

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  • ‘Colombia Solar’ expansion

    The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinEnergía) announced the expansion of its 'Colombia Solar for Popular Economies' program, aiming to benefit nearly 1,000 small businesses across the country.

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  • Voluntary carbon markets

    2024 has officially become the hottest year on record, with global average temperatures rising by 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels—surpassing the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target well before the 2030 deadline. This alarming development underscores the urgent need for bold action, as reiterated during COP16 in Cali, COP29 in Baku, and the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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  • Challenge to CREG

    A legal challenge has been filed before Colombia’s Council of State seeking the temporary suspension of Resolution 101 066 of November 18, 2024, issued by the Energy and Gas Regulatory Commission (CREG).

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  • Celsia nears wind power launch

    Celsia, the energy company of Grupo Argos, is in the final stages of building its first wind power plant in Colombia: the Carreto Wind Farm, located in the coastal department of Atlántico. This marks a major milestone for the company and Colombia’s growing push for renewable energy.

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  • Acting Director of UPME

    Manuel Peña Suárez, an electrical engineer with a master’s degree in economics, has been appointed as the acting director of Colombia’s Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME), replacing Carlos Adrián Correa.

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  • Bogotá expands electric fleet

    Bogotá’s public transportation system is taking a major leap toward sustainability with the addition of 269 fully electric buses set to begin operations by late 2025.

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  • Celsia expands portfolio

    Celsia, the energy company of Grupo Argos, has taken a major step toward its goal of reaching 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar and wind energy in operation in Colombia by 2027.

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  • Energy communities in Colombia

    After nearly three years of slow progress, Colombia’s energy communities program is finally starting to take shape, though not without criticism.

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  • MinAmbiente urges greater indigenous role

    From the United Nations headquarters in New York, Lena Estrada Añokazi, Colombia’s Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente), issued a global call to strengthen the role of Indigenous peoples in addressing the climate crisis.

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  • Massive energy fraud

    A sweeping energy theft operation has been exposed across the Colombian departments of Atlántico, Magdalena, and La Guajira, where electricity provider Air-e has launched a series of technical interventions to dismantle illegal connections and manipulated meters.

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  • ECP’s Pacific regasification project

    During the 2025 Naturgas Congress, Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) President Ricardo Roa Barragán announced the detailed roadmap for the company’s Pacific Coast regasification project, which will allow Colombia to import natural gas through a new terminal located in Buga, Valle del Cauca.

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  • EVs may increase CO2 emissions

    Electric vehicles are widely praised for their environmental benefits. They operate silently, produce no direct emissions, and enjoy numerous tax incentives from governments around the world. However, a recent joint study conducted by the University of Auckland and Xiamen University challenges the popular belief that electric cars are always a greener choice.

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  • Colombia bets hydrogen

    Colombia's renewable hydrogen production capacity has seen a dramatic increase, multiplying twelvefold in just one year to reach 416 tons annually.

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  • The black-eyed “p’s”

    Palma and Petro. Petro and Palma. The (not so) new Energy Minister Edwin Palma comes from Ecopetrol with a stint as Vice Minister of Labor and, more recently, as the “intervenor” in beleaguered Caribbean power distributor, Air-e. If he learned anything from these experiences, he seems have suppressed it to follow President Gustavo Petro’s whims. We will all suffer a black eye for the consequences.

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  • New deputy Minister of Energy

    The government appointed Karen Schutt Esmeral as its new Deputy Minister of Energy, marking a significant leadership change within the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinEnergia).

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  • Electric car boom

    Sustainable mobility continues to gain traction in Colombia, driven by growing consumer interest in reducing CO₂ emissions, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing urban life quality. This trend has also spurred innovation in the automotive and technology sectors.

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  • Air-e debt crisis

    Colombia’s Minister of Mines and Energy (MinEnergia), Edwin Palma, addressed the severe financial crisis facing the electricity provider Air-e, which operates in the departments of Atlántico, Magdalena, and La Guajira.

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  • GreenYellow appoints New CEO

    GreenYellow Colombia officially announced the appointment of a new CEO.

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  • Tariff tensions rise

    The energy sector in Colombia remains under scrutiny as several companies post electricity rates significantly above the national average.

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  • Higher gas ahead

    Despite recent statements by President Gustavo Petro suggesting that natural gas prices should remain low, Ricardo Roa Barragán, President of Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), delivered a more sobering message.

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  • Atlántico Governor’s warning

    Eduardo Verano de la Rosa, Governor of the Atlántico department and president of the Caribbean Administrative and Planning Region (RAP Caribe), raised alarm bells over Colombia’s energy security.

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  • Energy subsidy debt

    In a critical move to avert further strain on Colombia’s electricity sector, the national government has pledged to disburse CoP$400B (approx. US$100M) to partially pay off the mounting energy subsidy debt owed to distribution companies.

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    • Energy
    • Apr 17, 2025 12:00 PM

    Latin America electrifies

    Electricity generation in Latin America and the Caribbean rose by 5.5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, driven by increased energy access and growing electrification in industries, according to Andrés Rebolledo, Executive Secretary of the Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE).

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  • Energy self consumption

    In southern Colombia, the city of Tumaco closed 2024 by launching a local energy community powered by solar panels. The goal is a fairer energy and social transition. Interestingly, residents there are mirroring steps taken in Guzmán, Spain, where homes, a hotel, and even a blacksmith shop share a collective self-consumption solar system under the motto: “Energy by the people, for the people.”

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  • Tensions escalate

    The tension between the Colombian government and the energy sector continues to rise, as new regulatory measures introduced by the administration of President Gustavo Petro clash with the realities of a strained electrical system.

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  • EVs in Providencia

    As part of Colombia’s commitment to a Just Energy Transition, the national government launched an innovative initiative in Providencia.

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  • Small generators threatened

    Colombia’s renewable energy future could be at risk due to recent regulatory changes that, according to the Center for Renewable Energy and Water Studies (CEERA), are creating uncertainty and discouraging investment, especially for small hydroelectric plants (PCH), independent generators, and other unconventional renewable energy projects.

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  • Wind energy dreams stuck in the doldrums

    Colombia has made significant strides in boosting its unconventional renewable energy capacity, increasing its share of total electric generation from 2% to 10% in just a few years.

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  • Threat to Latin America’s energy sector

    U.S. President Donald Trump's latest tariff moves are sending ripples through Latin America’s energy sector, with potential impacts that range from reduced investments to trade disruptions and volatile oil prices.

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  • Is this the right time?

    For the end of the first quarter of 2025, we updated our XM database which contains the key monthly indicators of power demand and supply.  We have noted previously that the generation matrix was turning back to hydro, no doubt for cost reasons, but perhaps too soon to maintain reservoir levels.

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  • ECP and AES Colombia agreement

    Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) has taken a significant step in Colombia’s energy transition by signing a Framework Investment Agreement (AMI) with AES Colombia to develop the Jemeiwaa Ka’I wind cluster, a strategic renewable energy project located in La Guajira.

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  • Unlocking La Guajira’s wind potential

    As Colombia races toward its carbon neutrality goals for 2050, the winds of La Guajira remain a tantalizing but largely untapped resource.

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  • Energy crisis demands technical dialogue

    Colombia’s energy and gas sector calls for institutional respect, long-term planning, and financial stability amid mounting pressure from the government.

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  • Renewables empower future

    The global energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation, led by the rapid expansion of renewable energy. This shift is driven by the urgent need for sustainability, the rise of digitalization, the growth of electric mobility, and the emergence of new business models.

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  • Energy producers push back

    The Colombian Association of Electric Power Generators (Acolgen) responded firmly to recent statements by Energy Minister Edwin Palma, who questioned how electricity prices are set in Colombia’s energy exchange.

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  • SSPD scrutinizes Afinia

    Colombia's Superintendence of Public Utilities (SSPD) launched a comprehensive evaluation of Afinia, a subsidiary of Grupo EPM, following the company’s controversial proposal to implement electricity rationing in Caribbean communities with low bill payment rates.

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  • Petro’s proposal to reduce electricity bills

    In a nationally televised cabinet meeting, Colombian President Gustavo Petro unveiled a new proposal aimed at reducing electricity bills—particularly for low-income households—by financing solar panel installations through future budget commitments.

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  • Green light for energy communities

    Colombia has taken a significant step toward a more inclusive and sustainable energy future.

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  • Solar microfarms

    Colombia is facing one of its most severe energy crises in decades. With over 68% of its electricity generation relying on hydropower, the country was hit hard in 2024 when reservoir levels dropped to just below 50% of their capacity.

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  • Future-funded ambitions

    President Gustavo Petro has unveiled an ambitious portfolio of strategic projects to be financed through “vigencias futuras,” a mechanism that allows future government budgets to guarantee funding without disrupting current spending.

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  • XM warning

    Colombia could be heading toward serious energy shortages and even blackouts if it fails to increase its firm energy capacity, according to a stark warning issued by XM, the operator of the country’s National Interconnected System (SIN) and administrator of the wholesale electricity market.

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  • Tariff debt shift

    During a cabinet meeting, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, alongside Minister of Mines and Energy (MinEnergia) Edwin Palma, unveiled measures to restructure the country's energy tariff system to reduce costs.

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  • Energy transition needs clear regulation

    At the Focalizando Córdoba forum hosted by the Caribbean Energy Power Alliance, Hedmer Berrío, Director of Project Construction at Isagen, highlighted critical challenges facing Colombia’s energy sector—particularly in the Caribbean region.

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  • Approval to acquire Windpeshi project

    In a strategic move to diversify its energy portfolio and accelerate its transition toward cleaner energy sources, Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) received regulatory approval from Colombia’s Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (SIC) to acquire the Windpeshi wind power project from Enel Colombia.

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  • Draft regulation to promote white hydrogen

    In a significant move toward diversifying Colombia’s energy matrix, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinEnergia) released a draft resolution that will regulate the allocation of areas for the evaluation, exploration, and development of white hydrogen, also known as geological hydrogen.

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  • Subsidy debt reaches CoP$2.9T

    Colombia's public utilities sector is facing a financial crisis as the government delays payments on energy and gas subsidies, warns the National Association of Public Utilities and Communications Companies (Andesco).

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  • Electrification of public transport

    In a recent post on social media platform X, President Gustavo Petro proposed an ambitious national initiative to fully electrify public transportation systems in Colombia’s major cities, with a special focus on Bogotá.

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  • Wind energy dreams

    Colombia took a major step back in its clean energy ambitions with the definitive cancellation of two key wind farms, Alpha and Beta.

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  • “Party’s over”

    In an announcement that sent a jolt through Colombia’s energy sector, President Gustavo Petro said that the government will forcibly intervene in the electricity market, accusing power generators of overcharging and exploiting the system.

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  • La Dorada – Chiriguaná finally awarded and other railway news

    Just as we made our last check for the quarterly roundup of rail transport-related articles, MinTransporte announced a winner for the country’s first PPP (Public Private Partnership) for the core rail line up the Magdalena River.

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