Transportadora de Gas Internacional (TGI) and Hocol have signed an agreement to connect the Ballena regasification unit with the offshore Chuchupa field. This development will enable the injection of up to 250 million cubic feet of gas daily into the national system starting January 2027. The deal aims to secure Colombia's natural gas supply and support an orderly energy transition.
The agreement between TGI, a subsidiary of Grupo Energía Bogotá, and Hocol, part of Grupo Ecopetrol, establishes the use of a transfer line linking the floating storage and regasification unit in La Guajira with the gas resources of the Chuchupa offshore field. This connection is vital for the Ballena project, set to begin operations in January 2027 and prevent shortages by injecting up to 250 million cubic feet of gas daily into the National Natural Gas Transportation System. Jorge Henao, TGI's general manager, praised the collaboration: “We thank Hocol and the work teams for their willingness, commitment, and hard work in achieving the signing of this important agreement. Thanks to what is established there, TGI will be able to connect the floating infrastructure that will provide the liquefied natural gas regasification service, convert it to gaseous state, and transport it to the interior of the country, to be delivered to homes, businesses, and above all, to provide backup and reliability to the industrial and thermal sectors. Colombia will continue to advance as a country with available and affordable natural gas”.Hocol has clarified that all investments related to Ballena and offshore resources will be handled by TGI. The deal also aims to sustain current production levels until the Sirius resources arrive, expected to meet 50% of natural gas demand by 2030. Luis Eduardo Parra, Hocol's president, underscored the project's potential: “Within the analyses of the different alternatives for Ecopetrol Group's regasification infrastructure, without a doubt, this project in La Guajira is an opportunity to leverage existing infrastructure, but also the human talent and capabilities that Hocol can offer to the sector, having been for more than 50 years a responsible and committed actor in the development of the La Guajira department, with the aim of transitioning to a gradual, safe, and just energy transition”.Nationwide, other regasification initiatives are progressing. The Pacífico regasification unit will start operations in the second half of 2026, contributing 60 million cubic feet daily. In Coveñas, on the Morrosquillo Gulf, US$100 million will be invested from 2026 to 2028 for its early launch, following Anla approvals.
