COLOMBIA · SECURITY
Key Facts
- Power Index Colombia ranks 6th of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 51.9 points (October 2026 edition).
- What is happening EPM, Medellín’s utility, says in a document to Congress that armed groups demanded money for the Hidroituango dam.
- Why it matters The claims touch an energy asset and the city’s Metro; no authority has publicly confirmed them.
- The numbers The document alleges COP 5 billion (US$1.57 million) to enter, then over COP 500 million (US$157,000) monthly.
- Who is who Accounts name either Frente 36, an ex-guerrilla splinter, or the Clan del Golfo, a drug gang.
- What to watch Whether prosecutors, EPM or Metro de Medellín respond, and which group made which demand.
- What it means for you No effect on power supply or Medellín Metro service has been confirmed; check official travel advisories.
EPM, the public utility of Medellín in north-western Colombia, says armed groups demanded money to let its Hidroituango dam run. A congressman called the pressure a declaration of war.
EPM, Medellín’s public utility, has told Congress that armed groups demanded money to let its Hidroituango hydroelectric dam run. A congressman from the region called the pressure a declaration of war against the state.
The document says the demands began in August 2025 and came with threats against the Medellín Metro, the city’s rail network. EPM has not published the paper, and no authority has publicly confirmed the allegations.
What the EPM Document Says
EPM, short for Empresas Públicas de Medellín, supplies energy, water and gas. Its document went to the House of Representatives and surfaced during a debate in the chamber’s Second Commission.
It describes an entry payment of COP 5 billion (about US$1.57 million) and monthly payments above COP 500 million (about US$157,000). Conversions use the central bank rate of 3,182.99 pesos per US$, valid from 31 October to 3 November.
The groups also demanded written permits for any work and could expel work crews at will, the document says. The document adds that EPM restricted staff access to rural Briceño, near the dam, and at least 17 villages.
Two cylinder bombs on the road to the dam killed a sergeant and wounded a soldier, the document says. It also lists attacks on three power towers in September 2025 and drone flights over the dam in March 2026.
Which Armed Group Is Accused
Reports of the document split on who made the demands. One ties the payments to the Clan del Golfo, a drug-trafficking gang; another blames the Frente 36.
The Frente 36 is a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla, which signed a peace deal with the state in 2016. The Medellín mayor said in March that its leaders, known as Calarcá and Primo Gay, were extorting EPM.
Mayor Federico Gutiérrez made that claim on Monday, 2 March, saying EPM would never pay a single peso to such groups. Drone flights that day also led to a cancelled visit to the dam.
Peace talks with the Clan del Golfo have broken down, the document says, and violence followed in EPM’s area of operation. It also names Granizal, a settlement in eastern Medellín, where criminal groups are said to extort residents over drinking water.
The Metro and the Political Reaction
The document names the Medellín Metro as a target of threats attributed to the Frente 36, with no further detail. Neither the Metro nor the city has responded in the sources checked.
Simón Molina, a member of Congress from Antioquia, called it “a declaration of war against the State.” He urged the government to retake the Bajo Cauca, a sub-region of Antioquia, and to dismantle the Clan del Golfo.
What It Means for You
The allegations concern a Colombian public utility, and no effect on electricity supply or Hidroituango output is confirmed in the sources checked. Investors in Colombian power and infrastructure should note the security risk around energy assets.
Visitors to Medellín face no announced change to Metro service or city safety rules because of these claims. The Rio Times Colombia security guide lists hotspots, and the Medellín city guide covers the city.
Earlier Rio Times reports include Colombia Pledges US$855M to Avert Blackouts and Hidroituango Mega-Dam Hits Key Milestone and First Profits. More is on the Colombia hub, in Colombia Natural Resources Explained and on the Medellín city page.
What Is Not Known
As of 2:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, 3 November, neither EPM nor the House of Representatives has published the document. The amounts, dates and group names rest on accounts of the paper, not on a prosecutor’s charge.
No arrests or charges tied to these demands have been announced in the sources checked. It is unclear which group made each demand and what threat the Metro faced.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is EPM and what does it say happened?
EPM is Medellín’s public utility for energy, water and gas. A document it sent to Congress says armed groups demanded payments to let the Hidroituango dam operate.
How much money did the armed groups demand?
The document describes an entry payment of COP 5 billion (about US$1.57 million) and monthly payments above COP 500 million (about US$157,000). These are allegations, and no prosecutor has confirmed them.
Which group is accused of the extortion?
Accounts of the document name the Clan del Golfo, a drug-trafficking gang, and the Frente 36, a former FARC dissident group. No court has found either responsible for these demands.
Is it safe to visit Medellín?
No change to Metro service or city safety rules has been announced because of these allegations. Check the US State Department advisory for Colombia before travelling, especially outside the city.
Sources: Medellín Mayor’s Office, press statement of 2 March 2026; Antioquia regional daily, report of 31 October 2026 (updated 2 November); Medellín news site, report of 1 November 2026; Antioquia regional daily, report of 2 March 2026 (all accessed 3 November 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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