The Minister of Mines and Energy, Irene Vélez, assured in an interview granted to Blu Radio that Gas might be imported from Venezuela using existing transportation lines between the two nations. The portfolio leader pointed out that Colombia still has reserves “for between 7 and 8 years” and that in that time the country might establish a transition roadmap and if the energy resource is needed, it might be purchased from the neighboring country.
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“The first thing we have to do is restore diplomatic relations. We hope that this will allow us to have other strategic relationships for energy policy. It is not the desirable scenario to be dependent on a resource, but if following consuming the reserves we still need to supply our matrix, it might be done with that transport connection with Venezuela. But for that scenario we have timeVelez said.
He affirmed that the 170 exploration contracts that have already been signed will be respected, for which he hopes that also mean an increase in the country’s reserves.
In space, he also stated that he was happy to receive the news of the discovery of a high-potential gas province off the coast. It should be remembered that in the campaign the now president Gustavo Petro had stated that the development of all conventional offshore exploration projects in the Caribbean would be stopped.
However, the minister’s statements come shortly following Ecopetrol announced the success in the exploration of two wells: Uchuva-1 and Gorgón-2.
It should be noted that voices from the sector have warned regarding the possible impacts that an import of gas in the energy self-sufficiency of the country. In fact, Felipe Bayón, president of Ecopetrol, has reiterated on several occasions that if the gas were imported, its value for final consumers might quadruple.
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For her part, Luz Stella Murgas, president of Naturgas, pointed out that the cost situation might be even worse. “Importing gas would increase approximately five times the cost of the service bill for Colombians”, said the union leader.
He added that this will have effects in other areas. In the first place, he stressed that poverty and inequality in the country will increase, especially considering that Strata 1 and 2 concentrate 60% of the coverage of this service.
For this reason, he stressed that the best policy should be directed towards exploration and production. He pointed out, yes, that a connection between countries might be thought of as a system of redundancy and security, not of supply.
“It is very important that neighboring countries are energy interconnected as a system of redundancy and energy security“, said. But she added that it should not be the main scenario, since self-sufficiency should be the main bet in terms of energy and transition, concluded the president of Naturgas.
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