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Colombia late to LNG regasification game, but critical to meet inland demand
In the final commentary of a three-part series analyzing South American pipeline infrastructure, we focus on Colombia. Declining domestic production is making liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports increasingly crucial for Colombia to meet its demand. LNG enters the country at the SPEC LNG terminal, requiring coast-to-interior infrastructure and greater operational flexibility to deliver flows to interior markets. Current investments, therefore, focus not only on developing new routes but on expanding and optimizing systems, including bidirectional upgrades to guarantee a stable coast-to-inland supply.
As domestic onshore supply continues to decline, higher LNG imports are a must for the country, and after 2031, it could have the option to produce offshore gas from Sirius, pending its FID. With the alternatives in hand, the Caribbean coast will increasingly anchor gas supply, reinforcing coast-to-interior flows, and transport infrastructure should be adapted to enable this profile change. In this context, targeted upgrades to existing high-capacity corridors are emerging as a very cost-effective and resilient strategy, while investing in greenfield developments remains a secondary priority.
Colombia’s natural gas transmission system is fully onshore and structured around a limited number of high-capacity corridors. In recent years, gas has mainly been produced in the country’s interior (point E). Flows to the Caribbean region can vary depending on the dispatch of gas power plants in the country. Major stable-demand markets are in the main cities, such as Bogota, Medellin, Cali, and the Magdalena Valley.
The system is organized around two principal axes: 1) The northern corridors, operated mainly by Promigas, connecting the Caribbean coast altogether, including the Ballena-Barranquilla, Ballena-Cartagena, and other smaller segments; and 2) the TGI-operated Ballena-Cusiana corridor, linking the coast and the Llanos Basin to central and western demand centers, including the Ballena-Vasconia and Vasconia-Cusiana trunklines, as well as other lateral pipelines. The country is also connected to Venezuela at Ballena through the bidirectional Transcaribeno pipeline; following the decline in Venezuelan gas production, this infrastructure has remained non-operational and is not expected to resume operations in the near term.
The soonest expected pipeline investment in Colombia is the conversion of an existing oil pipeline, the Oleoducto de Colombia (ODC), operated by Ecopetrol. The facility is expected to play a complementary role in the country's gas supply dynamics, providing quick conversion capacity to enable additional LNG imports. Under the proposed configuration, the ODC could be partially repurposed to transport regasified LNG from the so-far-planned Covenas LNG project (point B), leveraging its existing right-of-way and strategic connectivity between the Caribbean coast and the country's interior. This solution would allow for the evacuation of imported gas volumes while minimizing the need for new pipeline construction, accelerating project timelines, and reducing permitting constraints. The project is contingent on the approval of the Covenas LNG facility, which could begin operations as early as the beginning of 2027.
Several LNG infrastructure projects are underway to address supply limitations, utilizing the existing pipeline system. Proposed LNG import facilities include Covenas LNG, Ballena LNG and Buenaventura LNG, with other private proposals for new terminals. Covenas LNG may use the ODC pipeline, while Ballena LNG is planned to go inland via the Ballena-Barrancabermeja corridor. Buenaventura LNG is expected to rely on truck-based transport initially. Additionally, offshore gas from Sirius is expected to start in 2031, increasing domestic supply and offsetting declining onshore production. Sirius will need a new offshore gathering pipeline and investment to transport higher volumes inland.
UPME, Colombia’s national energy planning agency, has outlined a twofold strategy: first, maximizing the capacity and flexibility of existing assets through upgrades and optimization strategies; and second, developing strategic greenfield corridors to address critical bottlenecks and connect key supply and demand hubs.
Infrastructure optimization
Ballena corridor bidirectional upgrades: The adaptation of the Ballena-Barranquilla/Barrancabermeja corridors to enable reverse flows, including optimization to favor the interconnection between the two routes. The project increases bidirectional capacity from 3 million cubic meters per day (MMcmd) to up to 4.8 MMcmd by June 2027, improving regional balancing as domestic production declines and coastal supply becomes more critical. Promigas leads the project with a $65 million investment.
Valle Inferior del Magdalena pipeline conversion: Conversion of the Jobo-Vasconia segment of the existing Oleoducto de Colombia (ODC) oil pipeline corridor into gas transportation infrastructure, unlocking up to 11.4 MMcmd of incremental capacity by 2030. The project establishes a high-capacity transfer axis between the Caribbean coast and inland markets, materially strengthening system resilience under tighter supply conditions.
Vasconia-La Belleza bidirectional upgrade: Led by TGI, plans to enable bidirectional flows, allowing at least 5.6 MMcmd of flexible gas movements by 2030 and enhancing the redistribution of supply between the Caribbean, Magdalena Medio, and central demand hubs.
New infrastructure
Magdalena Medio-Bogota corridor: Construction of a new high-capacity pipeline directly linking the Magdalena Medio supply hub to Bogota, proposed for 2030. This project is expected to add approximately 6 MMcmd of firm transport capacity, critically enhancing the energy security and supply diversity in the nation's primary consumption center.
Sincelejo-Magdalena Medio interconnector: A new pipeline to connect the Caribbean coastal gas system at Sincelejo to the national trunkline at the Magdalena Medio hub, planned for 2030. With an expected capacity of 5.6 MMcmd, it creates a vital new axis to move coastal gas volumes, primarily from LNG imports from the Cartagena region.
Magdalena Medio-Cucuta supply line: Development of a new pipeline to ensure a reliable, long-term gas supply from the national grid at Magdalena Medio to the Cucuta border region. With a projected capacity of up to 8 MMcmd and operations expected in 2030, the pipeline is designed to meet isolated demand and stabilize supply for industrial and residential consumers in Cucuta, which is currently isolated from the national grid.
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Vinicius Romano
Vice President, Gas & LNG Research
vinicius.romano@rystadenergy.com
Gabriela Sanches
Analyst, Gas & LNG Research
gabriela.sanches@rystadenergy.com
Marina Siqueira
Analyst Intern, Gas & LNG Research
marina.siqueira@rystadenergy.com