Petro's government covers one hole with another: it will issue more debt to pay Ecopetrol for gasoline subsidy
Periodsita Portafolio 03.04.2026 11:59 Updated: 03.04.2026 16:28
TL;DR
- The Colombian government owes $1.6 trillion to Ecopetrol and Refinería de Cartagena for fuel subsidies from Q1 2025.
- The debt payment will largely be settled using public debt instruments, not immediate cash.
- A small cash payment of approximately $2.891 million will be made on April 1, 2026.
- Over $1.55 trillion will be paid with public debt titles on December 15, 2026.
- The agreement formally acknowledges the debt and includes compensation for the financial cost of the payment delay.