Colombian President Gustavo Petro has proposed that the state-owned company Ecopetrol SA import natural gas from Qatar. This move aims to diversify the country’s suppliers and reduce gas prices for consumers. Petro emphasized on social media Monday that the “monopoly” on gas imports should end. He called for the public services watchdog to investigate and take action against distributors selling gas at inflated prices, adding, “Colombia is being robbed.”
Currently, Colombia imports most of its gas from the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. Petro’s statement follows a higher-than-expected inflation report in February and his recent visit to Doha, Qatar, where he promised to strengthen trade relations. The U.S. remains Colombia’s largest commercial partner.
Petro has also resisted signing new drilling licenses, part of his effort to reduce Colombia’s reliance on fossil fuels. This policy has led the country to depend on expensive gas imports to address domestic shortages. Last month, gas distributors raised prices by up to 36% in cities like Bogotá and Medellín. Imports of liquefied gas from the U.S. and other countries are often two to three times more expensive than locally sourced gas.
Any decision on importing gas from Qatar would need approval from Ecopetrol’s board. Petro recently urged the state oil company to sell its U.S. operations, aligning with his government’s stance against fracking, which he believes harms both nature and humanity.
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