Colombia faces energy alert as El Niño intensifies
Colombia is facing a critical energy alert due to the intensification of the El Niño phenomenon. XM, the administrator of the Wholesale Electricity Market, has warned that the phenomenon is 100% confirmed and has an 81% probability of being 'very strong' between October and December 2026.
With rainfall levels remaining below the historical average for three consecutive months, hydroelectric reservoirs are at risk of reaching minimum levels. To prevent a national energy deficit, the country must rely heavily on its thermal power plants. XM projects a need for sustained thermal generation averaging 100 GWh/day per week, a level of operation unprecedented in the history of the national interconnected system.
Technical reports indicate a projected energy deficit of -5,468 GWh/year for the 2026-2027 period. Vulnerable regions include the Eastern Area (Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Meta), which faces power deficits due to planned maintenance of critical plants, and the Caribbean region, where the grid is already strained, leading to preventive load shedding to ensure system reliability.
Authorities from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd) and Ideam have noted that the climatic phenomenon may persist through the second half of 2026 and into the first quarter of 2027, increasing risks of forest fires, extreme temperatures, and water shortages.
Entities
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The El Niño phenomenon is expected to persist through the second half of 2026 and potentially into the first quarter of 2027. www.elnuevosiglo.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rainfall contributions have been below the historical average for three consecutive months. elnorte.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Colombia faces a projected energy deficit of -5,468 GWh/year for the 2026-2027 period. elnorte.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The probability of a 'very strong' El Niño event occurring between October and December 2026 is 81%. elnorte.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Thermal generation will require a sustained average of 100 GWh/day per week for potentially over nine consecutive months. elnorte.com.co
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The consolidation of the El Niño phenomenon is 100% confirmed. elnorte.com.co