Ecopetrol and Petrobras, two of Latin America's leading energy giants, are making significant strides in their joint offshore gas project, the Tayrona Block, situated off Colombia's Caribbean coast. The project, which focuses on two key wells—Uchuva-1 and Uchuva-2—is expected to provide vital support for the country’s energy needs, with an estimated 6 billion cubic feet of natural gas reserves confirmed, making the venture commercially viable.

According to Orlando Velandia, president of Colombia's National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), the companies could secure the necessary environmental and social licences for the project by mid-2026. Once the licences are obtained, the project will progress towards the construction of the required infrastructure, with a gas pipeline expected to be completed by the end of 2028 or early 2029.

The Tayrona Block is crucial for Colombia, which has faced a growing gas deficit, relying heavily on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports to meet demand. The development of the project will contribute an estimated 13 million cubic metres of gas per day to the domestic supply. Petrobras operates the Tayrona Block with a 44.4% stake, while Ecopetrol holds the remaining 55.6%.

However, the project has faced significant challenges, particularly from indigenous communities who have opposed the project’s environmental impact. Legal challenges have temporarily threatened the project’s progress, but recent court rulings have allowed exploration activities to continue, provided further consultations with affected communities are carried out.

Despite these obstacles, the Colombian government remains optimistic that the Tayrona project, along with other offshore and onshore fields already awarded, will play a pivotal role in securing the country’s long-term gas supply without the need for new licensing rounds. As part of its strategy to diversify supply, Colombia is also working to expand its capacity to import LNG through floating regasification terminals.

This ambitious energy initiative marks a critical step in Colombia’s energy transition, aiming to reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports while boosting domestic production capabilities to meet both current and future demands.