CARTAGENA, Oct 1 (Reuters) – Colombia is making progress in arranging a bidding round for geothermal energy licenses, Orlando Velandia, president of the country’s National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH), said at an industry event in the Caribbean city of Cartagena on Tuesday.
The government of leftist President Gustavo Petro has made weaning the Andean country off its reliance on fossil fuels, particularly oil and coal, which are major exports and sources of income, a priority.
“We are advancing with the ministry (of mines and energy) and the geological service to structure a (bidding) round for geothermal generation,” Velandia said at the Colombian Petroleum Association’s (ACP) forum on oil, gas and energy.
The process could begin by the end of this year, Velandia added.
Colombia is currently in the process of organizing an offshore wind auction in the country’s Caribbean waters. The accreditation process for that bidding round should finish this month, Velandia added.
The ANH, which oversees licenses across Colombia’s energy matrix, has returned seven suspended oil and gas contracts in the Andean country to normalcy, Velandia said, adding it had worked with companies and communities to avoid the suspension of 10 others.
Reporting by Oliver Griffin Editing by Mark Potter