Colombia Lifts Gas Rationing After Terminal Repairs

Colombia's Ministry of Mines and Energy officially concluded a scheduled natural gas rationing period late Saturday, October 31, after a major regasification terminal successfully resolved an operational failure. The crisis began on October 26 when an issue arose in one of the four regasification trains at the SPEC LNG facility in Cartagena, temporarily reducing the plant's available capacity from 533 million to 400 million cubic feet per day.

The reduction prompted the government to issue Resolution 40585, establishing a strict distribution hierarchy to safeguard essential services. The emergency measures prioritized household consumption, followed by thermal power generation and industries critical for refining liquid fuels, while placing firm gas exports at the bottom of the supply queue.

Although initial estimates suggested the repairs would take between six and eight days, the Sociedad Portuaria El Cayao announced that operations returned to normal ahead of schedule. The floating storage and regasification unit recovered its full capacity of 533 million cubic feet per day on Saturday night, prompting the National Gas Operating Council to confirm that the shortfall had been overcome.

With the restoration of full capacity, the Ministry of Mines and Energy issued Resolution 40596 to lift the extraordinary measures, returning the market to its standard commercial rules. Officials reported that essential supplies, including those for homes and hospitals, remained secure throughout the contingency.

However, industry observers noted that the incident underscores underlying vulnerabilities in Colombia's energy infrastructure. The country currently imports roughly 30 percent of its natural gas consumption, with domestic reserves estimated at only 5.9 years, leaving the national system sensitive to disruptions at the Cartagena terminal.

Meanwhile, international developments also impacted global energy discussions as maritime security concerns mounted in the Middle East. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy in Iran reported that two oil tankers struck naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz, causing explosions and a fire on one vessel, though these claims could not be independently verified.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received reports of merchant vessels facing projectiles and explosive devices in the region, including a targeted liquefied natural gas carrier operated by Nakilat in the Arabian Gulf. Regional governments and international shipping agencies condemned the attacks, warning that commercial maritime threats could destabilize global energy supplies.