Colombia has been experiencing significant difficulties in meeting gas demand since the end of 2024. This situation is expected to worsen in 2026, according to data from an Andi survey, which reveals that only 51.9 % of companies have secured gas for the following year.

The country has been forced to use imported fuel in essential sectors such as homes, vehicles, businesses, refineries, among others. The problem, which according to the survey will affect the industrial sector next year, not to mention the recent five-day halt in deliveries due to annual maintenance at the Caribe Spec regasification plant.

Colombia has implemented emergency measures, “such as changing supply priority, with gas delivered to the essential segment, refineries, thermal plants, and finally to industrial companies. The latter would be the most affected, since the latest government circular showed that the molecule is not enough to cover business demand, and thus they would be forced to ration during the maintenance period.”

However, these measures have represented a severe blow to the national economic sector, impacting growth, inflation, employment, and other macroeconomic indicators.

Currently, 66.1 % of the country’s businesses consume natural gas for their economic activity. On the other hand, 100 % of companies that use natural gas have only secured an average of 51.9 % of their supply by 2026. In this scenario, there is already talk of importing gas and reducing production by 13.4 %.

The products to replace gas would be “liquefied petroleum gas (37.3 %), renewable energies such as solar and/or thermal (21.6 %), liquid fuels, mostly diesel (19.6 %), propane gas (19.6 %), and coal (9.8 %). Others mentioned are electricity, biomass, and biodiesel, with 13.7 %.”

M.Pino

Source: portafolio.co

(Reference image source: KWON JUNHO on Unsplash)

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The European Commission has asked European Union (EU) countries to extend for a further year the voluntary 15 % reduction in gas consumption agreed two years ago at the onset of the energy crisis. According to the institution in a statement, this measure was scheduled to expire on March 31.

Brussels urges Member States to continue to take voluntary measures to maintain a collective reduction in gas demand of 15 %, compared to the average consumption recorded between April 2017 and March 2022. The recommendation, which must be approved by EU partners, will be discussed at the next meeting of EU 27 Energy Ministers, scheduled for Monday 4 March.

On gas demand, Brussels acknowledges that the energy situation in the EU has improved since the beginning of the crisis. Despite this, it believes that there is still a need to save energy due to the persistence of geopolitical tensions, the constraint of global gas markets and the decision to reduce Russia’s dependence on fossil fuels.

Continuous gas savings will help to maintain and improve market stability, as well as facilitate the filling of gas storage during spring and summer. It will also support the EU’s decarbonisation efforts, the EU executive argues.

Brussels estimates that the bloc has managed to reduce its gas demand by 18 % between August 2022 and December 2023, representing a saving of 101 billion cubic meters and exceeding the 15 % target agreed in the summer of 2022.

In addition to reducing gas demand, Member States committed to reach 90 % of gas storage capacity by 1 November 2023. The EU already achieved this target in August last year, and by November it was already at 99% capacity.

K. Tovar

Source: Euronews

(Reference image: Arthur Lambillotte, Unsplash)

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Last November, the United States resumed first place as the main source of natural gas supply to Spain, with 20.6 % of the total, after having been surpassed in September and October by Algeria, according to data from the Enagás bulletin.

Specifically, the consumption of natural gas from the United States reached 7,157 gigawatt hours (GWh) in November. In this way, the North American country stands in this 2022 as the main supplier of Spain, with 28.5 % of the total, followed by Algeria (23.7 %) and Nigeria (14.5 %).

In November, Algeria, historically Spain’s main supplier until the ‘sorpasso’ by the United States occurred at the beginning of the year, ranked second, with 18.4 % of total consumption, with 6,393 GWh.

Concerning Russia supply, imports in November amounted to 5,953 GWh, 17.1 % of the total in the period, standing so far in 2022 at 48,406 GWh (11.9 %). However, most of this gas comes from the production of Yamal LNG, which does not depend on the Russian gas giant Gazprom, but on the private company Novatek.

On the other hand, in November the export balance to France increased, with 2,025 GWh, already amounting to 8,836 GWh in the accumulated year.

Regarding the demand for gas so far this year (from January to November), it remains practically at the same levels (-1.0%) compared to the same period last year, despite the drop registered in November of 30% compared to the same month a year ago.

Specifically, the total demand for gas stood at 28,013 GWh last November, with a decrease of 32.1 % of the conventional one – that destined for domestic, commercial, industrial and co-generation consumption – and of 25.7 % of that allocated to electricity generation.

This significant drop in demand in November was mainly due to higher temperatures  – 3.1 degrees Celsius more than the same month of the previous year – and lower industrial consumption, while the role of the natural gas as backup for renewables in increased consumption for electricity generation so far this year.

Source: dpa

(Photo: time.news, via web)

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