September 03, 2025 [Reuters]- Investment in Colombia’s natural gas industry is expected to increase by 34.6% to $1.1 billion in 2025, driven by exploration and production efforts to reduce the fuel deficit, association president Luz Stella Murgas said on Tuesday.

Investments in natural gas in the Latin American country reached $817 million in 2024.

Of the $1.1 billion projected for 2025, $1.007 billion will be allocated to exploration and production — a 37% year-on-year increase — while $50 million will focus on distribution and marketing, Murgas said.

“The investment amount is consistent with the need to increase the country’s gas supply,” the Naturgas president added, noting 11 projects have been identified.

The association forecasts a gas deficit of around 5% this year, rising to 20% by 2026, due to reduced exploration linked to President Gustavo Petro’s energy transition policies aimed at cutting fossil fuel dependence.