A false dilemma is being sold to Colombians, especially amidst today’s electoral tensions: the choice between the energy transition and natural gas, as if the two were mutually exclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the political agenda forces us to bet on one or the other, the reality of the power grid tells a different story. We aren’t facing a choice; we are managing a complex system where different technologies fulfill distinct and necessary roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, for instance, roughly 65% to 70% of the energy we consume comes from hydroelectric sources. Historically, this has been a major advantage, but it is also a vulnerability. Whenever El Ni\u00f1o strikes, reservoir levels drop, and the system comes under immense strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is where gas stops being a secondary player and becomes critical. It is the fuel that steps in when water falls short\u2014the one that maintains grid reliability during moments of high stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simultaneously, Colombia has made strides in incorporating non-conventional renewables like solar and wind. However, by their very nature, these sources do not generate power constantly; they depend on the sun and the wind\u2014conditions that aren’t always under our control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2025, for the first time in history, we produced more solar energy than coal-fired power. While this is a milestone worth celebrating, it doesn’t change a fundamental reality: that energy remains intermittent and requires backup to guarantee a continuous supply. Without that complementarity, progress in renewables doesn’t automatically translate into a reliable grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why, rather than competing, these sources need each other. Yet, the public conversation has simplified this landscape to the point where it seems the country must pick a side. This is where the problem begins, because simplifying a complex system leads to poor decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In reality, the supposed dilemma between \u00abclean\u00bb and \u00abdirty\u00bb energy doesn’t exist. Gas isn’t the antagonist of renewables; in many cases, it is what allows them to function without risking blackouts. Framing them as opposites doesn’t just confuse the public\u2014it derails the discussion from where it should actually be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Colombia currently produces about 795 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, but we consume more than that. The gap is being bridged by imports, which now account for nearly 21% of consumption. In other words, while the debate centers on whether gas should<\/em> be in the equation, the reality is that we already need more of it than we can produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the most recent El Ni\u00f1o, nearly 30% of the country’s electricity was generated using gas. That figure alone should be enough to illustrate its role in system reliability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The underlying issue isn’t technical\u2014it’s communicative. We are explaining the energy transition as if it were an immediate replacement, as if one source must vanish for another to exist. This is not only inaccurate; it’s irresponsible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We cannot lose sight of how the system actually works, or we will open the door to decisions that jeopardize reliability and drive up energy prices. Even worse, we will create the wrong incentives: industries might migrate back to more polluting fuels because gas loses its competitive edge, causing us to quietly backslide on our decarbonization goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The energy transition is not a replacement race. If anything, it is a long-distance marathon of coexistence. Understanding this isn’t a minor detail\u2014it is the difference between an orderly transition and one that yields uncertainty, higher costs, and a loss of public trust. We don’t have to choose between clean energy and gas; we have to learn how to integrate them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A false dilemma is being sold to Colombians, especially amidst today’s electoral tensions: the choice between the energy transition and natural gas, as if the two were mutually exclusive. While the political agenda forces us to bet on one or the other, the reality of the power grid tells a different story. We aren’t facing … <\/p>\n