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
24 March 2026
It is an unusual story of out with the new and in with the old, as America First Refining shows the US going back to trusted energy security developments
23 March 2026
A complex and sometimes contradictory web of factors that include unpredictable oil prices, the globalisation of LNG markets, the expansion of Middle Eastern sovereign capital and the growth of datacentre demand will shape the energy landscape beyond 2026
23 March 2026
The Strait of Hormuz crisis highlights how key waterways can become global chokepoints
20 March 2026
Attacks on key oil and LNG assets across the Gulf mean a prolonged supply disruption, with damage to Qatar’s export capacity undermining confidence in the global gas system
