Colombia: This was the increase in natural gas coverage

Text note taken from Naturgas dated August 2, 2023

Inspenet, August 13, 2023.

• Although Colombia has a significant increase in natural gas coverage, it is key for the sector to prioritize the substitution of inefficient materials for cooking to benefit the health of communities.

Bogota, August 2, 2023 . Colombia represents a world example in terms of access to natural gas service in the residential sector, and during 2023 this trend continues to increase. According to the Colombian Natural Gas Association (NATURGAS), during the first quarter of 2023, the country had a growth of 3.8%, which is equivalent to more than 397,000 new connections, compared to the same period in 2022.

Among the departments that led this important increase, Nariño stands out, with a growth of 15.4%, equivalent to 6,161 people, followed by Arauca with an increase of 14%, that is, 972 users, and Guaviare with a growth of 7.4 %, which equals 413 users. On the other hand, the regions that registered a lower increase in coverage are Córdoba, Bogotá and Chocó.

“Our industry has a firm commitment to increase natural gas coverage throughout the country, although we have an encouraging outlook for access to this service, Colombia has a valuable opportunity to bring more than 1.6 million homes closer, through the substitution of inefficient materials used for cooking and thus overcome a deprivation of energy poverty in the country”says Luz Stella Murgas, president of Naturgas .

According to a report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA), one in three people around the world, in most of the poorest regions, still lack access to clean cooking facilities, equivalent to to 2.3 billion people who cook their food on open fires or in basic kitchens, who depend on materials such as firewood, charcoal and animal dung, which can have negative repercussions on health, the environment, causing millions of deaths premature births per year, especially women and children.

On the other hand, the publication points out that natural gas stoves serve as a clean and high-performance technology for cooking in terms of health, efficiency and positive impact for women that can help reduce the time burden in households, as well as how to reduce the inhalation of harmful pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter PM 2.5. It also indicates that natural gas is a primary solution for access to clean cooking, which can serve as a key ally to improve public health, the local environment, and the socioeconomic development of communities.

“To provide greater access to clean kitchens in Colombian homes, it is necessary to join efforts between the national government and the sector to materialize the projects proposed in the Natural Gas Supply Plan, and seek mechanisms that encourage greater investment in remote and dispersed areas. to guarantee their access to the benefits of natural gas. For this, it will be necessary to prioritize, under criteria of efficiency and equity, which are the areas in which we can start the substitution of inefficient fuels and increase the number of users that receive natural gas”, Murgas adds.

For more information about the IEA’s “A Vision for Clean Cooking Access for All” report, go here.