energy
April 13, 2026
XM alerts on the need to expand thermal energy supply due to the arrival of El Niño
The Colombian energy sector continues to sound the alarm about supply in the face of the imminent arrival of El Niño starting in September 2026. This time, XM, administrator of the wholesale energy market, warned in a bulletin that the country will have to expand its thermal supply to meet demand during the phenomenon.
TL;DR
- XM, the administrator of the wholesale energy market, warns Colombia about potential energy supply issues due to El Niño starting September 2026.
- Current reservoir levels are at 60%, falling short of the recommended 80% needed for the onset of El Niño.
- The country needs to increase reservoir levels by 17.19 percentage points in approximately 16 weeks to ensure reliable energy supply.
- An increase in thermal generation, using natural gas or coal, is proposed as the main alternative to cover energy demands.
- Past droughts, like those in 1991-1993 and 2015-2017, saw thermal plants operating at high capacities for extended periods.
- The energy sector infrastructure and fuel supply will face high demands to meet energy needs during this period.