Ecopetrol and its subsidiary Hocol, along with Colgas, bring social gas to more than 70 families in Chaparral, Tolima

Hocol, a company of the Ecopetrol Group, and Colgas, have led an initiative that benefits 73 families from strata 1 and 2 in the populated centers of Pipiní, Amoyá, and Guainí in the municipality of Chaparral, Tolima department, providing access to the public service of household gas.

This project had a total investment of over 675 million pesos, of which Hocol financed the construction of distribution networks, connection rights, internal networks, designs, document management, and the enclosure and regulation of the infrastructure, Colgas managed the service tariff and contributed 100% of the storage tanks, and the Mayor's Office of Chaparral facilitated the necessary permits and procedures as the holder of the external infrastructure, as well as the lots on loan alongside the community.

This project stands out for being the first in the social gas initiative carried out through virtual pipelines, which consist of transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) compressed in special containers to communities that are not connected to pipelines. These containers are transported to decompression stations near the end users where it is regulated to an appropriate pressure for distribution through local networks. This is an efficient and sustainable solution to bring gas to remote areas without pipeline infrastructure.

The social gas initiative improves the quality of life for vulnerable households, reduces the use of firewood and other polluting fuels, minimizes environmental impact, promotes community health by decreasing the ailments associated with the use of polluting fuels, and reduces spending in the family basket by replacing the use of inefficient fuels with an economical and effective gas service.

“The Social Gas program reflects our commitment to communities and sustainable development. Thanks to this initiative, we contribute to closing social gaps and caring for our environment in partnership with local authorities and communities, generating a positive and immediate impact through access to energy,” said Luis Eduardo Parra, president of Hocol.

“At Colgas, we are proud to be part of an alliance that brings propane gas service to the homes of Chaparral. We are committed to providing a safe, reliable, and economical service that contributes to the well-being of families and the sustainable development of communities,” stated Yeffer Guzmán, Director of Networks at Colgas.

Since its inception in 2019, the Social Gas program has connected more than 69,000 households to the home gas service. Through Hocol, since 2021, more than 30,000 families have benefited, consolidating this initiative as a key pillar for social development and sustainability.