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Against the backdrop of Venezuela’s first LPG shipment to Colombia and a new Campetrol report showing 2025 oil production down 3% and gas output down 17%, Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) president Frank Pearl issued a pointed call for domestic energy self-reliance.

Two regasification projects at different stages of development — one on the Pacific coast and one on the Caribbean — are moving forward this month, offering the near-term additions to Colombia’s gas import infrastructure as domestic field production continues to decline.

Some readers may think we are ignoring the sector’s most important news: the Iran War and its impact on oil prices. Instead, we worry about reporting things you already know, especially those that are widely reported global stories. Here we update our price charts for those who use them and try to make relevant Colombia-specific comments on what are rapidly changing events.

Petrobras and Ecopetrol announced on March 18, 2026 the confirmation of a new natural gas discovery in the deep waters of the Colombian Caribbean, with the drilling of the exploratory well Copoazú-1 in Block GUA-OFF-0. The companies stated that “the discovery consolidates the gas province and the hydrocarbon potential in this area, while adding a greater volume of gas to contribute to the country’s energy security.”

Energy and Mines Minister Edwin Palma has acknowledged that cheap Venezuelan gas imports could fundamentally alter the economics of Colombia’s domestic supply plans – potentially undermining the commercial rationale for the offshore Sirius project and curtailing the market for regasification infrastructure.

Three of Ecopetrol’s major labor unions have gone public with sharp criticism of both the company’s strategic direction and the continued tenure of president Ricardo Roa.