The announcement by the Colombian state-owned company comes amid warnings from various unions about a shortage of natural gas and the urgency to avoid interruptions in the provision of the service.
Ecopetrol announced Thursday that it has implemented measures to guarantee diesel deliveries to wholesalers, “because the recent attacks on the Caño Limón Coveñas and Bicentenario oil pipelines have impacted the production capacity of this fuel at the Barrancabermeja refinery,” the company said in a statement.
The company also mentioned that “the biodiesel sector has been observing a lower availability of product this month, which will lead to a greater demand for diesel.”
However, the company says that to date it has delivered diesel volumes above the established program, “exceeding 100% and has good inventory levels. However, as a preventive measure, the company has taken the decision to look for additional alternatives to support these inventories, in order to meet expectations.”
Thus, the company has managed the import of 1,640,000 barrels of diesel, which should arrive in Colombia in the coming weeks through the Pozos Colorados terminal in Santa Marta, and through the Port of Buenaventura, "preventing any eventuality associated with the reduction in the supply of biodiesel."
The company's announcement comes amid a warning from all the energy sector associations (Andesco, Acolgen, Andeg, Asocidis, Naturgas and Ser Colombia) about the risks that persist in the system and that could even affect the provision of energy and gas services. The companies also ask the Government to take urgent measures.
The gas situation
Luz Stella Murgas, president of Naturgas, said that it is urgent to address the natural gas shortage to avoid interruptions in the provision of the service: “There is not enough firm local gas to guarantee the provision of the service without interruptions to all demand, neither in homes nor in industry.”
Murgas explained that a solution must be found by December 1, 2024 to avoid supply problems. According to Naturgas, from that date, gas shortages are 12% of national demand (including thermal plants), and by the end of 2025 and during 2026, the deficit will increase to 30%.
As it is already clear that external sources of gas are needed, the first step, according to Naturgas, is for the Government to sign a decree, drawn up by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, to be able to import gas, which until now has only been imported for thermal plants. “If we do not do so before December 1, we will be able to avoid supply cuts in industrial areas, but also in homes,” said Murgas.
The association also calls for other measures such as prioritizing and accelerating the development of local gas exploration and production projects, in continental and offshore areas, and the required transportation infrastructure; adopting the necessary regulations to make the purchase and sale of gas more flexible and resolving tariff requests for gas transportation and distribution pipelines and for the marketing activity to end users.
