Colombia Again Faces Natural Gas Rationing Following New Failure at the SPEC Plant

Colombia is once again facing natural gas rationing due to a technical issue at the SPEC LNG terminal, the country's only import, storage, and regasification facility for liquefied natural gas (LNG). This follows a similar situation one month ago when the Ministry of Mines and Energy declared scheduled rationing following a temporary reduction in imported gas supply capacity.

The latest rationing measure, announced on Friday, October 27, was put in place due to "a technical condition" affecting the terminal's regasification infrastructure. This new rationing, adopted through Resolution 40585, prioritizes essential demand, including households and small businesses, followed by thermal power generation and industrial activities necessary for crude oil transportation. Remaining users will be served based on the order and conditions outlined in the resolution.

SPEC LNG reported that corrective work is underway on one of its four regasification trains, and the terminal will maintain a maximum regasification capacity of 400 million cubic feet per day (Mpcd) during this period. The work, expected to take between seven and eight days, will be carried out by specialized personnel following strict technical, operational, and safety protocols.

Three levels of service have been established: essential demand, non-essential users with firm supply contracts, and firm natural gas export commitments. Essential demand categories, estimated to consume 30 million cubic feet per day of the total shortfall, include households and small businesses. Non-essential users with current contracts will receive the remaining gas allocations, subject to contractual commitments and supply priorities.