Energy Sep 20, 2021 5:01 PM
Energy demand at the national level has peaked three times in the most recent three months of the year.
This behavior has not been recorded since February 2020, before the arrival of the pandemic, when the National Interconnected System (SIN) showed a consumption equivalent to 217.07GWh/day, Valora Analitik reported.
XM reported that September 3rd and 10th were two of the highest consumption days in the country’s history, totaling 219.7GWh/day and 219.2GWh/day, respectively.
These figures are the second and third highest for demand, since the first one was on July 23rd, when the value reached 220.19GWh/day.
Today, demand continues to rise, where as of September 14th, it was still above 210GWh/day.
Antioquia is the department with the highest increase, with a variation of 14%. It is followed by Tolima, Huila, Caquetá, Caldas, Quindío and Risaralda, with a variation of more than 10% in each case.
The increase in consumption is supported by the economic reactivation of several sectors.
Oliver Wack, general manager of the consulting firm Control Risks for Colombia, said that demand levels are a good barometer for economic activity.
“An increase in energy consumption, especially in agriculture and manufacturing industries, as has been observed since July this year, suggests that these sectors are again increasing their production,” Wack said.
ANDEG’s Alejandro Castañeda said that the 20% drop in demand with the arrival of the pandemic is now a thing of the past.
Acolgen’s Natalia Gutiérrez Jaramillo said that the significant increase is mainly due to “the dynamics of some sectors, which have driven demand in recent weeks. These sectors are the industrial, agricultural and livestock and social services (mainly health and assistance).”
Bottom-Line: The energy sector demonstrated its ability to cope with an unprecedented crisis without affecting energy supply throughout the pandemic.
The economic recovery process continues to move forward, and the growing demand for energy is proof of this.
