Colombia Issues First Geothermal Exploration Permit for 133.79 MW Project

Colombia's Ministry of Mines and Energy issued on July 6 the country's first large-scale geothermal exploration permit. The El Barranquero project, spanning Samaná (Caldas) and Nariño (Antioquia), carries an estimated potential of 133.79 megawatts (MW) and a projected investment exceeding 38,556 million Colombian pesos.

The five-year permit marks the formal start of geothermal energy as a generation source in Colombia, a country whose electricity mix relies heavily on hydropower, a resource vulnerable to climate variability and El Niño cycles. Unlike hydroelectric or solar generation, geothermal energy delivers firm, dispatchable power around the clock, a critical advantage for grid reliability. Colombia's position along the Pacific Ring of Fire gives it an estimated total geothermal potential exceeding 1,170 MW, according to the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC). The authorization adds to other projects under development in the Ruiz Volcanic Massif, including Nereidas, which received its license in May 2026, according to Renewables Now.

The exploration program authorized for El Barranquero, located in the San Diego geothermal area, includes geological, geophysical, and geochemical studies, reservoir modeling, the drilling of a deep exploratory well, and an assessment of the field's energy potential. The Ministry of Mines and Energy stated that the project must fulfill community engagement obligations with populations in the area of influence and coexist with other activities in the mining and energy sector in the zone. Minister Edwin Palma stated that "geothermal energy will become a reality in Colombia's electricity generation mix" and that the government is advancing energy diversification with "concrete decisions."

The Colombian government expects geothermal energy to begin delivering firm power to the national grid within the next five years. With three projects at different stages of development, Colombia is positioning itself as Latin America's most active emerging geothermal market.

This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.