U.S. Intervention in Venezuela Could Help Solve Colombia’s Energy Crisis

Core Viewpoint - Colombia's natural gas production is in a significant decline, leading to increased reliance on costly liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports to meet domestic demand and maintain electricity grid stability, while potential solutions from Venezuela are hindered by infrastructure challenges. Group 1: Natural Gas Production Decline - Colombia's natural gas output has fallen to a multi-decade low of 683 million cubic feet per day as of January 2026, which is 17% lower than the same period a year earlier [5] - The country faces a supply shortfall, with predictions indicating that up to 30% of domestic natural gas will be supplied by LPG imports in 2026, up from 18% in 2025 [8] - Natural gas reserves are dwindling, with only 2.064 trillion cubic feet remaining, sufficient for just 5.9 years at current production rates [3] Group 2: Economic and Infrastructure Challenges - The decline in natural gas production is exacerbated by a lack of investment in drilling and the cessation of new exploration contracts by the government [3] - Colombia's hydroelectric facilities, which generate over 60% of the country's electricity, are increasingly vulnerable due to low rainfall impacting water levels [1] - The aging oilfields and the need for enhanced recovery techniques are putting pressure on natural gas availability, as less associated gas is available for commercial production [2] Group 3: Potential Solutions from Venezuela - Recent geopolitical developments, including U.S. intervention in Venezuela, have opened the possibility for Colombia to import natural gas from Venezuela, which has significant reserves estimated at 6.3 trillion cubic feet [9] - The Antonio Ricaurte pipeline, which could transport natural gas from Venezuela to Colombia, is being reconsidered for reactivation after years of inactivity, although it requires extensive repairs [12][14] - The pipeline has the capacity to deliver 500 million cubic feet per day, which could help alleviate the projected supply shortfall of 206 million cubic feet per day [12]