For this year, the growing interest in natural gas also stands out, which represents 52% of the total projected investment in exploration (USD 591 million). Likewise, USD 930 million (82% of the 2022 investments) will be carried out onshore (USD 200 million), including the drilling of two deepwater wells.
For its part, the Colombian Natural Gas Association Naturgas stated that the industry has identified 127 strategic projects for nearly USD $2.900 billion for the development, growth, and economic and social reactivation of the country. Some of these projects for the production, transportation, and distribution of natural gas are already underway and others are in structuring, generating more than 20,000 new jobs and ensuring the supply of this clean energy.
“With the current fields and the new developments, forecasted by the Mining-Energy Planning Unit, we will have enough natural gas to ensure the supply for more than 10.4 million users in homes, transportation, commerce, and industries,” added Luz Stella Murgas, president of Naturgas.
The executive reported that the natural gas industry represents 1% of GDP and employs around 100,000 people in the country. In terms of consumption, natural gas, due to its environmental benefits and competitive prices, represents 20% of the primary energy consumed in the country, being the second energy source with the highest participation in the energy matrix.
Luz Stella Murgas acknowledges that the country has enormous potential in natural gas (up to 60 TPC) to be converted into proven reserves; today we have 3 TPC of proven reserves.
INVESTMENTS IN THE CARIBBEAN
One of the regions that will receive the highest percentage of investment is the Caribbean, which continues to be the main recipient of exploratory investment (USD 487 million). 59% of the investment will be made onshore; and the total investment allocated to offshore projects in Colombia will be executed in this region. Likewise, 78% of the investment focused on the search for natural gas will be executed in the Caribbean.
“The Caribbean has been consolidating as a region of utmost importance for the country in energy matters; its potential in gas, both onshore and offshore, in addition to the renewable energy projects being executed, positions it as a key department for Colombia's energy security, in a context of transition. Thus, the investments planned for this year in exploratory matters, mainly for the search for gas, are of the utmost importance, as they contribute to the dynamism of the local economy, and are key to continue driving reactivation, growth, and its development as one of Colombia's strategic regions,” said Francisco José Lloreda Mera.
Source: The Herald
Colombian Association of Oil and Gas