Colombia indefinitely suspended electricity exports to Ecuador starting January 22, 2026, in response to Ecuador’s imposition of 30% tariffs on Colombian products. The move reflects deteriorating bilateral relations and underscores growing concerns over Colombia’s energy sovereignty amid climatic risks and geopolitical disputes, signaling potential long-term disruptions in regional energy trade and commercial integration.
The Colombian Ministry of Mines and Energy issued Resolution 0064, halting all electricity exports to Ecuador effective 6:00 p.m. on January 22, citing national energy security and deteriorating trust following Ecuador’s tariff imposition announced by President Daniel Noboa at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The tariffs targeted 20 Colombian product categories, with Ecuador accusing Colombia of insufficient cooperation on security matters, particularly in combating drug trafficking and illegal mining along the border. Colombia’s Minister Edwin Palma characterized the suspension as a measure to protect the domestic energy system from growing climatic pressures, including declining hydro reservoir levels amid the risk of a developing El Niño phenomenon. The resolution conditions any future resumption of electricity trade on technical, commercial, and diplomatic restoration of good faith between the two countries. Colombia stressed that despite historical solidarity, including supplying Ecuador during 2024’s severe energy shortages with outages exceeding 14 hours, the recently unilateral Ecuadorian measures violated Andean Community (CAN) trade regulations and damaged trust. Electricity exports previously constituted the highest-value Colombian exports to Ecuador, accounting for roughly 8-10% of Ecuador’s electricity demand and generating around $30 million monthly, with total bilateral electricity sales exceeding USD 400 million between 2024 and 2025. Industry stakeholders note significant exposure of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, and agricultural products to the newly imposed Ecuadorian tariffs, threatening trade volumes and pricing. Reactions within Colombia revealed political divisions; some leaders backed the sovereignty defense, while others warned against escalating tensions harming consumers and commercial integration. Ecuador countered Colombia’s energy suspension by threatening increased tariffs on Colombian crude oil transport via the OCP pipeline, amplifying commercial frictions. The dispute manifests broader challenges in regional integration, as weather-driven energy vulnerabilities, political disputes, and unresolved security cooperation issues converge, complicating prospects for stable cross-border energy exchange and commerce within the CAN framework.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
