In January 2026, imported gas accounted for 21% of total consumption in Colombia, according to Upme data. This figure highlights the rising trend in imports due to declining local reserves, as warned by Naturgas, which forecasts 26% by year's end.
Colombia's energy sector is seeing a rise in natural gas imports, driven by a 64% drop in proven reserves over the past 13 years, according to Sergio Cabrales, a professor at Universidad de los Andes. Domestic supply has declined from over 1,000 gigas BTU per day in previous years to 667 Gbtud in 2026, increasing reliance on foreign supplies.
In January 2026, imported gas met 21% of total consumption, up three percentage points from 18% in January 2025. Cabrales notes that this pushes up supply costs, affecting user tariffs and posing risks to energy security.
On the demand side, industrial users have shifted to alternative energy sources due to price and availability issues, curbing gas consumption. Thermoelectric demand is also at lows, thanks to high hydroelectric reservoir levels averaging 77.97% as of February 15. Seven reservoirs exceed 90%, including Urrá, Ituango, and Calima, which are near 99%, aided by unusual rainfall from a cold front.
Naturgas had previously warned that imports could reach 26% of consumption by the end of 2026, given the local supply shortage.