Colombia's New Government Prepares Fossil Fuel Comeback
On June 21, conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, endorsed by Donald Trump, won Colombia's presidential election by a narrow 1% margin over Iván Cepeda, who was expected to succeed current leftist President Gustavo Petro. De la Espriella will be sworn in on August 7, signaling a sharp policy reversal. Petro, Colombia's first leftist leader, had pursued a green energy transition, boosting renewable capacity from 200 to 3,600 MW and reducing fossil fuel dependence. De la Espriella, known as 'The Tiger,' has pledged to exploit fossil fuels fully, redirect state oil company Ecopetrol toward hydrocarbons, and loosen environmental regulations, mirroring Trump's agenda. He also plans to build 10 mega-prisons inspired by El Salvador's Nayib Bukele. Colombia's oil reserves are declining, and the deficit reached 6.4% in 2025, but oil, gas, and coal still contribute about 5% of GDP. In oil-producing regions like Barrancabermeja, voters overwhelmingly supported Cepeda due to environmental concerns. Former environment minister Susana Muhamad expects the new government to repeat the 'mining locomotive' model of previous administrations.
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