Topocoro to become fourth reservoir spilling over due to overflow

The Playas reservoir has reached 110.5% of its capacity, starting spills of 2.0 GWh and becoming the third in this condition. The Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios reports three reservoirs in simultaneous overcapacity: Playas, Ituango, and Urrá I. Topocoro, at 96.2% fill, may soon join due to the high flow of the Sogamoso River.

The Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios reported that, as of February 26, 2026, Colombia's hydroelectric system has three reservoirs in simultaneous overcapacity. Playas is operating at 110.5% of its capacity, leading to spills of 2.0 GWh, joining Ituango (100.2%) and Urrá I (96.5%). This situation is described as unprecedented.

Ituango has recorded the week's highest spills, at 39.27 GWh, due to the record flow of the Cauca River at 1,367 m³/s, representing 218% of the historical average. In contrast, the Punchiná reservoir recovered notably to 76.0%, an increase of 59.7 points from 16.3% on February 22, thanks to reduced dispatch at the San Carlos plant.

Topocoro is at 96.2%, with only a 3.8% free margin, and the Sogamoso River is flowing at 982 m³/s, 504% of the historical average, making spills inevitable in the next 24 hours. Other rivers show significant increases: Prado at 314.6 m³/s (581% historical), pressuring its reservoir to 70.7%; San Carlos at 54.8 m³/s (337%); and Betania CP stable at 185.8 m³/s (132%), with no imminent spill risk.

Companies like EPM are maintaining constant monitoring of their electric generation reservoirs amid these intense weather conditions.

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Colombian government officials in Montería urgently coordinate flood response for Córdoba, with maps of inundated areas from heavy rains and Urrá reservoir.
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Government addresses floods in Córdoba amid climate crisis

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The Colombian government holds a Council of Ministers in Montería to coordinate responses to floods in Córdoba, triggered by heavy rains and discharges from the Urrá reservoir. Urrá's board appointed Enrique Kerguelen Méndez as interim president after Julián Acevedo's resignation, amid criticism from President Gustavo Petro. Proposals include a new economic emergency and use of unspent royalties to address the crisis.

The Superintendencia de Servicios Públicos Domiciliarios reported that the Ituango reservoir recorded two consecutive days at a 98.8% fill level, below 100%, with discharges of just 6.34 GWh. This trend points toward the definitive cessation of discharges amid low Cauca river flows. Other reservoirs in the National Interconnected System show mixed variations.

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Colombia's Ituango hydroelectric plant recorded the lowest discharge of the recent period at 15.93 GWh but completed 35 consecutive days of spillovers due to climatic contingency and water volatility. The reservoir reached 98.8% fill level, while Chuza dropped to a critical low of 30.0% and Muña recovered to 46.6%.

Colombia's oil production dropped 3% in January 2026 year-on-year to 746,400 barrels per day from 769,800 the previous year, according to Campetrol. Compared to December, it fell 0.1%, or 7,000 barrels, with the sharpest declines in Casanare.

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Cundinamarca's Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAR) denied water use extension to Indega S.A.S. for three springs in La Calera and cut the flow in the other four, per Resolution 347 of 2026. The action aims to preserve water for human consumption amid climate variability. Director Alfred Ballesteros Alarcón outlined the conditions on the Coca Cola bottler.

Javier Milei's government confirmed the restart of the Santa Cruz river hydroelectric complex works, halted since he took office. The project, funded by Chinese banks and executed by Gezhouba, aims to add energy to the electrical system and strengthen ties with China. Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced progress on the Cepernic dam, potentially completing in 2030.

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The National Association of Public Services and Communications Companies (Andesco) and the Regional Center for Energy Studies (Cree) released a study revealing a 39% probability of a natural gas supply deficit in Colombia by 2026. The report highlights a medium thermal demand scenario that could rise to 58% in 2027, with average volumes of 117 Gbtud and 129 Gbtud respectively. Both organizations warn of the absence of a clear regulatory framework posing risks to the energy sector.

 

 

 

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