For over a year, Colombian oil producers enjoyed a period of relative calm, free from the threats of pipeline explosions or sabotage. However, this quiet period has ended, as guerrilla groups in Colombia have resumed their attacks.
In the past two weeks, Colombia’s state oil and gas operator, Ecopetrol, reported five separate attacks on two major pipelines. The Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline was hit three times, while the Bicentenario pipeline experienced two attacks. In response, the Colombian army has been deployed to protect the staff repairing the Cano Limon-Covenas pipeline, as reported by Ecopetrol’s subsidiary, Cenit.
Since late August, there have been at least 14 attacks on oil pipelines across Colombia, following the collapse of peace talks between the guerrilla group ELN and the Colombian government. These negotiations, which had been ongoing for about a year, were frequently interrupted due to disagreements between the ELN and the government of President Gustavo Petro.
The ELN, inspired by the Cuban revolution, is the world’s oldest guerrilla group, established in 1964 and numbering over 5,800 members as of 2022, according to AFP. The group often uses infrastructure sabotage to extract concessions from the government. Oil pipelines are a prime target, similar to situations seen in Libya.
Oil exports are crucial to Colombia’s economy, accounting for approximately a third of the country’s export revenue. Disruptions in oil production directly affect oil exports and, consequently, state revenue. Ecopetrol reported that recent pipeline attacks have negatively impacted its output. The company warned that the damage to pipelines and the difficulties in transporting hydrocarbons and liquefied petroleum gas could affect crude oil and gas production, as well as supplies to refineries and fuel distribution across the country.
This escalation is particularly troubling for an industry already grappling with ongoing challenges, including previous pipeline attacks and the new policies of President Petro. Petro’s administration aims to reduce Colombia’s reliance on hydrocarbons, which has further complicated the situation. Last year, the government halted the issuance of new oil and gas exploration permits to combat climate change. This decision alarmed industry stakeholders, who feared it would make Colombia more vulnerable to fluctuations in international oil prices as domestic production declines.
Petro’s commitment to transitioning away from oil and gas could potentially reduce the ELN’s leverage by eliminating pipelines as targets for sabotage. However, this shift could introduce new vulnerabilities, particularly to wind and solar installations, which are central to Petro’s energy transition goals.
Carlos Velandia, a former senior commander in the ELN, told Bloomberg that the group believes oil companies have secured contracts that benefit them at the expense of the country. The ELN advocates for full Colombian control over natural resources, similar to Venezuela’s approach. Until such control is achieved, the guerrilla group is likely to continue targeting extraction and transport infrastructure, as a lasting peace with the Colombian government remains elusive.