Venezuela has commenced the export of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to Colombia via tanker trucks crossing the Simón Bolívar International Bridge, marking a foundational move to restore bilateral energy trade. The countries plan to enhance this cooperation by exploring the reactivation of the Antonio Ricaurte gas pipeline to enable future pipeline gas deliveries.
On March 13, 2026, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced the first shipment of butane gas to Colombia through the terrestrial border crossing at the Simón Bolívar Bridge, a key commercial gateway linking San Antonio del Táchira in Venezuela and Cúcuta in Colombia. This export marks Venezuela’s initial step toward reviving commercial ties and diversifying its energy income after years of economic crises and international sanctions that have constrained its oil and gas sector. The announcement followed a canceled scheduled meeting between presidents Gustavo Petro of Colombia and Rodríguez due to security concerns related to armed group activity along the extensive 2,000-kilometer border. Instead, governments dispatched their foreign ministers, Yván Gil (Venezuela) and Rosa Villavicencio (Colombia), along with other senior officials, to Caracas to conduct discussions focused on energy cooperation, border security, trade, and tourism.
The bilateral talks occurred amid growing pressure from the United States, which is urging enhanced counter-narcotics efforts in Colombia and the reactivation of Venezuelan oil production by U.S. companies, following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro in a recent U.S. operation. The Venezuelan border region remains volatile due to the presence of illegal armed groups like the National Liberation Army (ELN), which finances itself through drug trafficking. Both governments are coordinating security strategies to curb these illegal activities.
Additionally, Venezuela has recently passed a hydrocarbons law reform opening the energy sector to private and foreign investment, signaling a potential upturn in production capacity. Colombian officials have indicated intentions to rehabilitate the cross-border Antonio Ricaurte gas pipeline to expand future LPG deliveries by pipeline, expected to materialize within months. The current LPG export via tankers represents a tangible indicator of improved cooperation and a possible shift in regional energy trade dynamics.
