Nov 4 (Reuters) – Colombia expects to have a licensing round for new oil exploration areas ready in the first quarter of 2027, the head of the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) said on Wednesday.
The country halted new hydrocarbon exploration contracts from 2022 to 2026 under former President Gustavo Petro, whose government sought to steer Colombia away from fossil fuels.
- ANH President Ernesto Forero told an energy summit in Cartagena that officials are working to lift suspensions on several existing contracts
- Forero said the government wants to structure the tender carefully to avoid errors
- President Abelardo De La Espriella has backed reviving the oil and gas sector, including fracking, as part of a push for energy self-sufficiency
- In early October, the agency set aside about 19.9 million hectares for potential future oil and gas contracts
- Colombia’s proven oil reserves fell 0.7% to 2.02 billion barrels in 2025
- Proven gas reserves fell 16.8% to 1.72 trillion cubic feet, from 2.06 trillion cubic feet in 2024
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