Ecopetrol and Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía have formally launched the execution phase of the regasification project in Cartagena after obtaining the necessary regulatory and environmental approvals for its development. The initiative aims to strengthen the natural gas supply in Colombia through the import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and an initial capacity of up to 300 GBTUD starting in December 2026.
ANI authorizes port adjustments to receive LNG in Cartagena
The National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) authorized the non-substantial modification of the Puerto Bahía port concession. This decision enables the use of existing maritime infrastructure for the receipt and admission of LNG at the terminal located in Cartagena.
Likewise, the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) approved the minor environmental change required to move forward with the construction and integration of the energy infrastructure. With both permits approved, the project enters a key phase to guarantee the gas supply in the short and medium term.
Puerto Bahía to move forward with FSRU infrastructure
During this stage, Sociedad Portuaria Puerto Bahía will carry out the logistics contracting, procurement, and construction processes related to the floating storage and regasification unit, known as FSRU.
The infrastructure will allow for the storage and transformation of liquefied natural gas to incorporate it into the national distribution system. The schedule anticipates that the terminal will enter operation in December 2026, a period considered critical due to the potential impact of the El Niño phenomenon on the country’s energy generation.
The project also contemplates the integration of new capacities that could be progressively expanded according to the behavior of national natural gas demand.
Regasification in Cartagena will boost Colombia’s energy security
With the start of operations of this regasification terminal, Ecopetrol projects contributing up to 300 GBTUD to the Colombian energy balance. The company believes that this capacity will help reduce the risk of deficits and improve supply reliability for residential, industrial, and thermal users.
Furthermore, the project gains relevance given the need for complementary supply sources in scenarios of climate variability. Authorities and companies linked to the energy sector have warned about the importance of diversifying gas sources to respond to demand growth.
The commercial process associated with the gas that will enter through Puerto Bahía concluded on May 15 with the signing of contracts between distributors and marketers, which will guarantee supply to various clients in the national market.
Bayron Triana, Vice President of Energy for Transition at Ecopetrol, noted that the approvals obtained fully enable the infrastructure required to execute a strategic initiative focused on reinforcing energy security and the reliability of the natural gas supply system in Colombia.
The project is part of the actions promoted by Ecopetrol along with Puerto Bahía and Frontera Energy to incorporate new supply sources and respond to the country’s energy needs over the coming years.
Source: Ecopetrol
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