Promigás recommends a long-term vision, timely decisions, and effective coordination to ensure the supply of natural gas.

In its 2025 Natural Gas Sector Report, Promigás stated that the sector is at a point where a long-term vision, timely decisions, and effective coordination between the National Government, local authorities, the private sector, and communities are required.

This is necessary to ensure the supply of natural gas and ensure that more than 35 million citizens continue to have "a reliable, affordable energy source with a lower carbon footprint than its substitutes."

The report highlights that December 2024 marked a milestone in Colombia's energy history as the month in which it became necessary to resort to natural gas imports as a structural source of supply for the Colombian market.

Thus, December 2024 marked the start of permanent natural gas imports for segments other than thermal generation, reflecting the loss of self-sufficiency at a time when energy policy debates are intertwined with the global climate agenda.

This date marked the turning point at which the country moved from a surplus market to a deficit one. Colombia had a surplus because the national supply fully covered the consumption of public natural gas utility users , with the exception of part of the thermal demand located on the Caribbean coast.

To cover this shortfall, the National Government promoted the construction of the Cartagena regasification plant so as not to affect the normal functioning of the market.

After December 2024, the deficit condition arises because imported gas is required to meet the needs of different demand segments, and no longer exclusively for thermal generation in the Caribbean region.

In this new context, the analysis indicates that it is necessary to ensure a permanent balance between the quantities demanded and supplied by domestic producers and importers.

"It is imperative to examine whether the transportation system's capacity is sufficient to support the flows associated with imported gas, as well as potential changes in domestic gas flow patterns. In a deficit market, information on commercial relationships between chain agents and operational management become more important," explains Promigás.

Furthermore, it explains that this new condition forces the National Government and market participants to make decisions with fewer degrees of freedom and, in some cases, with less notice than was possible in the past.

One of the alternatives for increasing the supply of domestic natural gas is to convert contingent resources into reserves and subsequently into production.

To achieve this, the Natural Gas sector report includes five recommendations from two companies dedicated to hydrocarbon exploration and production.

The first is fiscal and regulatory competitiveness, as they say Colombia needs to regain international competitiveness in terms of tax burden to attract investment in gas.

The second is to eliminate sectoral surcharges, ensure fiscal stability, and provide a flexible, balanced, and practicable regulatory, environmental, and economic framework.

The third is to ensure the support of governments and state entities to execute projects safely.

"Solid environmental assessments and dialogue with communities are essential to managing impacts, ensuring compensation, and promoting well-being in the regions," the companies explain.

The fourth is to avoid demand destruction, and to do so, it is essential to send clear signals of gas availability to prevent plant closures or migration to more polluting substitutes. "Natural gas import projects are considered an essential part of the short-, medium-, and long-term equation," they point out.

Fifth, there is economic and legal viability, which requires a cost-benefit analysis to optimize operations without compromising safety and sustainability.

"Regulatory stability, industry promotion, and infrastructure improvements are crucial. Tax incentives can encourage investment and increase production and royalties, and regulatory compliance, the rapid adaptation of regulations and contracts, and the standardization of coexistence agreements are key to project continuity," they point out.