Colombia will step up coal and oil production to fill the global energy gap
2022 06/24
Colombia will increase coal and oil production to fill the energy gap caused by global sanctions against Russia, Energy Minister Diego Mesa said Wednesday.
It is understood that Colombia has restarted coal exports to Ireland. Ireland stopped buying Colombian coal in 2016 because of human rights concerns.
"Ireland used Russian coal to replace Colombian coal six years ago, but since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict Ireland has switched to Colombian coal again." Reuters quoted Mesa as saying.
Mr Mesa said international demand for coal was high and companies such as Drummond, one of Colombia's biggest producers, had secured contracts to deliver coal over the next 18 months. Poland has signed a contract with Drummond to supply 1 million tons of coal and is expected to secure another 2 million tons.
On the oil front, Mesa said he expects Colombian oil production to reach at least 800,000 b/d in 2022 and 900,000 b/d by 2023.