economy
May 8, 2026
'Only 291 MW have entered': XM alerts to a significant lag in new electrical projects in 2026 due to the El Niño phenomenon
Electric energy Photo: Nikola Johnny Mirkovic Z - Unsplash
TL;DR
- Colombia's installed electrical capacity is expected to reach 22,849 MW by 2026, comprising operational and testing plants.
- The pace of new generation project entries is slower than anticipated, with only 291 MW added by April 29, 2026, against a target of 4,475 MW for the year.
- Hydropower dominates the generation matrix, accounting for 13,231.87 MW (58%), followed by thermal (6,241.42 MW) and solar (3,334.97 MW).
- A historical trend shows a significant gap between expected and actual MW entries in previous years (2020-2025).
- Multiple hydroelectric, thermal, and solar power plants are undergoing scheduled maintenance between May 4 and May 17, 2026, leading to temporary reductions in capacity.