Colombia's economy has been hit by protests and blockades
Letter from South America: Colombia needs to act on declining output
The Andean country’s recent troubles highlight the need to encourage exploration
Colombia is going through a difficult time. Recent social unrest, the first of its kind in more than a generation, has brought longstanding issues to the fore. The disorder is causing more tangible problems as well. The blockades associated with the protests had stopped the production of around 1.5mn bl of crude oil and 2.7bn ft3 (76.5mn m3) of gas as of June, according to energy minister Diego Mesa. Those are not insignificant volumes. Perhaps more worryingly, last year crude oil production in Colombia slipped below 800,000bl/d for the first time since 2010. The Andean nation’s extractive industries have always been exposed to some element of risk. The oil and gas sector was once a favourit
Also in this section
18 June 2025
Eni is joining the first phase of the 30mt/yr ARGLNG, while consortium behind the smaller Southern Energy LNG has reached FID
17 June 2025
Israel’s attack on Iran caught oil firms with low inventories due to their efforts to protect themselves from falling prices, creating a perfect storm
17 June 2025
Sound development planning is essential in this diverse and rapidly evolving region
16 June 2025
The launch of the much-needed yet oft-delayed Africa Energy Bank remains shrouded in questions and funding constraints, but its potential is clear
