Colombia’s Terpel Targets 50+ Autogas Sites

COLOMBIA · COMPANY NEWS

Terpel, a Colombian fuel retailer, and gas supplier Colgas opened their sixth autogas station in Bogotá. They aim to pass 50 stations in 2027 as vehicle gas prices climb.

Terpel, a Colombian fuel retailer, and Colgas, a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supplier, opened their sixth autogas station in Bogotá. Autogas is LPG sold as a car fuel, and the two companies now run 26 stations across Colombia.

They aim to pass 50 stations in 2027, as natural gas for vehicles gets dearer. The goal comes from company executives quoted by a Colombian business daily on 28 October 2026.

Terpel’s shares trade on the Colombian stock exchange (BVC), and its Company Intelligence profile has the company data. A report from Bogotá lists eight autogas stations by name, six open now and two due before year end.

Why Autogas, and Why Now

Natural gas for vehicles, known as GNV, rose about 19% in October at some stations. The price went from COP 4,200 to COP 5,000 a cubic metre (US$1.34 to US$1.59).

In Bogotá, stations of Vanti, a gas distributor, added about COP 800 (US$0.25). Local reports blame less imported gas, regasification problems and lower domestic output; see Colombia’s gas warning and EPM’s gas restart for factories.

Terpel’s own website says autogas can cut monthly fuel spending by about 30% and cut fine particle emissions by 80%. These are company claims, and a Bogotá report quoting company data puts the saving at 20% to 35%.

What the Two Companies Are Spending

Each station needs about COP 700 million (US$223,000), executives said. Terpel expects to spend about COP 10 billion (US$3.2 million) in 2026 and 2027.

Colgas puts in COP 400 million to COP 500 million (US$127,000 to US$159,000) per station for tanks and civil works. It also pays about COP 1.3 million (US$414) for each vehicle converted, which subsidises the driver.

Colgas says its total comes to about COP 27 billion (US$8.6 million). The goal is to roughly double the number of LPG stations in the country.

The Bogotá Numbers

Sylvia Palacio, Terpel’s manager for the Bogotá-area Sabana region, said Terpel serves about 1,057 vehicles a day in Bogotá. The target is 1,500 a day by the end of 2026.

Terpel expects eight Bogotá autogas stations by year end, up from six. Nationally, Palacio said the partners expect to sell 13 million litres of autogas this year and reach 29 stations.

Where the Gas Comes From

Jorge Martínez, Colgas’s mobility manager, said Colombia makes about 39% of the LPG it uses through Ecopetrol, the state oil company. About 61% is imported through the Okianus terminal in Cartagena and trucked to stations.

Colgas announced in July a project of about US$60 million at its Cartagena import port. It would lift capacity to 32,000 tonnes a month from 21,000, a rise of more than 50%.

What It Means for US Readers

Colombia’s gas shortage is raising costs for drivers, and a listed fuel retailer is betting that LPG fills part of the gap. Readers who track Colombian energy names should note that the plan depends on imported LPG.

The same squeeze appears in Colombia’s power deficit forecast and Colombia’s tariff request to Washington. Visitors to the capital can see what is on in What to Do in Bogotá in November 2026.

What Is Not Known

The 2027 target is stated as more than 50 stations, and one headline gives 55, which the text does not support. The executives do not say how many stations each company will open or when.

The fuel-saving figures come from the companies, and no independent test is cited. Terpel’s website describes autogas in three main cities and gives no station count.

The national and investment figures come from one business daily’s account of executive remarks, with no company filing or release found. A Bogotá report confirms the six-to-eight station plan for the capital only.

What Comes Next

Terpel says two more Bogotá stations will open before the end of 2026, taking the city to eight. The partners aim for 29 stations nationally by then.

The 2027 goal of more than 50 stations will depend on gas supply, and on whether drivers pay to convert their cars. Colgas’s Cartagena expansion is the supply test.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is autogas?

Autogas is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), mainly propane and butane, sold as a car fuel. Drivers need a certified conversion kit fitted to run on it.

How many autogas stations do Terpel and Colgas have?

The two companies run 26 stations in Colombia after opening their sixth in Bogotá. They plan 29 by the end of 2026 and more than 50 in 2027.

Why is autogas in demand in Colombia?

Natural gas for vehicles rose about 19% in October, from COP 4,200 to COP 5,000 a cubic metre (US$1.34 to US$1.59). Gasoline prices are also rising.

How much is the investment?

Terpel expects to spend about COP 10 billion (US$3.2 million) in 2026 and 2027. Colgas says its total is about COP 27 billion (US$8.6 million).

Where does Colombia’s LPG come from?

Colombia makes about 39% of its LPG through Ecopetrol, the state oil company. It imports about 61% through the Cartagena terminal, according to Colgas.

Sources: Terpel, AutoGLP service page; Colombian business report on the Terpel and Colgas plan, 28 October 2026; Bogotá report on the AutoGLP stations, 28 October 2026; Colombian newsroom report on the vehicle gas price rise, 21 October 2026; Colombian business report on the Colgas Cartagena port investment, 14 July 2026; Bolsa de Valores de Colombia, the Colombian stock exchange; ExchangeRate-API, US$1 = COP 3,143 on 28 October 2026 (all accessed 28 October 2026).