Colombia energy supply and infrastructure stability

Colombia has introduced new regulatory measures and emergency protocols to manage energy security. On October 6, 2026, Decree 1491 was implemented to allow thermal power plants to source alternative liquid fuels during force majeure events or third-party actions that threaten electrical system reliability. This regulation, which requires registration through the Liquid Fuel Information System (SICOM), aims to mitigate supply challenges during periods of low water availability.

Following these regulatory shifts, a technical contingency occurred at the SPEC LNG regasification terminal in Cartagena. A failure in one of the facility’s four regasification trains reduced the terminal’s capacity from 533 million to 400 million cubic feet per day. In response, the Ministry of Mines and Energy established programmed natural gas rationing.

The government has implemented a priority system to manage the reduced supply, prioritizing essential demand, thermal power generation, and industrial activities required for crude oil transport. While the rationing is a national measure, authorities have noted that residential supply and small businesses are among the prioritized users.