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A global shortage of floating regasification vessels is raising costs and delaying the LNG import projects Colombia is counting on as its domestic gas declines.

Colombia faces a growing natural gas deficit if the projected decline in domestic output continues, and a regasification terminal in La Guajira is central to closing it.

Colombia declared programmed natural gas rationing this week for industrial customers, requiring an explanation of both the mechanical trigger and the broader supply fragility it exposes.

A malfunction in one of the floating regasification unit’s trains at the SPEC terminal in Cartagena forced Colombia into temporary industrial gas rationing starting September 24^th, cutting the terminal’s capacity from 475 to 400 mmcfd and restricting roughly 15 GBTU/day of demand normally covered by imported gas.

Colombia’s gas situation has become the short-term crisis point within the broader energy-security debate, alongside electricity supply concerns raised at Acolgen’s Annual Energy Congress in Bogotá.

Colombia’s gas imports have surpassed the volumes seen during the 2023-2024 El Niño, with Acipet projecting imports could represent roughly 40% of national gas supply by year-end 2026.

Colombia is preparing a new import point for gas and other energy products in Ciénaga and Santa Marta, Magdalena.

Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said Colombia’s bilateral agenda with the United States includes discussion of energy interconnection with Venezuela, specifically referencing the Antonio Ricaurte pipeline in northern Colombia as a potential route for importing gas from the country holding the world’s largest reserves.

Environment Minister Fabio Arjona detailed his ministry’s measures to shore up energy supply against El Niño during a September 9 congressional debate on the energy sector, the same session where MinEnergia Arboleda warned electricity tariffs must rise. Arjona said the ministry is working across several fronts, including expanding gas and water storage capacity for hydro dams.

Amazónica LNG formalized its contract with China’s Jereh Group, through subsidiary Jereh Oil & Gas Colombia, to advance construction of its regasification project in Palermo, Sitionuevo, Magdalena, an estimated US$180 million private investment.