Sanctions Shift Colombia’s Energy Path from Caracas to Doha

Colombia grapples with a mounting energy crisis, a government source disclosed on March 26, 2025, as gas supply options dwindle. The nation exports goods worth $1.003 billion to Venezuela, up 49% from 2023’s $673 million, yet imports no gas or oil from its neighbor.

Trade booms—candies and pumps top exports, while fertilizers and steel lead $134 million in imports—but energy links falter. The Antonio Ricaurte pipeline, dormant since 2015, once connected the countries.

Last year, Ecopetrol’s Ricardo Roa planned to import 100 Gbtud of Venezuelan gas to counter an 85 Gbtud deficit expected in 2025. Repairs, targeted for June 2025, aimed to deliver 30 to 50 million cubic feet daily via the 400-capacity pipeline.

Yet, U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Venezuelan energy trades, effective April 2, 2025, derailed the effort. Roa now shuns Venezuelan gas due to sanctions, pushing Colombia to eye Qatar instead. However, absent regasification facilities delay this pricier option by 18 to 24 months.

At home, reserves linger at 2.81 trillion cubic feet, sufficient for 7.2 years. Offshore sites like Uchuva offer hope, but output waits until 2029, slowed by legal snags. Experts urge local drilling, as Ecopetrol limits 2025 supply to 551 Gbtud, covering just 65% of demand.

Colombia Faces Energy Crunch Amid Rising Trade

Trade with Venezuela surges—sweet exports rose 17.6% to $56 million, pumps leaped 172.6% to $36 million. Imports reached $12.79 million in January 2025, with fertilizers at $3.9 million. Still, energy independence slips away, trapped between a sanctioned neighbor and a far-off Gulf prospect.

These numbers tell a tale of urgency. Colombia juggles thriving Venezuelan trade with a gas crunch intensified by global tensions. Qatar proves no fast remedy, and domestic lags widen the gap, forecast at 350 million cubic feet daily by 2029.

Businesses monitor this unfolding drama. The government weighs expensive imports against untapped local reserves, striving to stabilize energy before shortages stall progress. The clock runs, and answers remain elusive….