<article><p class="lead">Colombia will quadruple LPG imports in 2022 to meet demand as state-controlled Ecopetrol prepares to divert its supply for use as diluent and gasoline feedstock, Colombian LPG association Agremgas says.</p><p>Colombia is expected to import an average of 20,658 tonnes/month in first half 2022, rising to 20,730t/month in the second half, compared with 5,000-6,000t/month in 2021.</p><p>Colombia historically imported about 3pc of the LPG it consumes. Starting next year, imports will account for around 31pc of total LPG consumption of 66,000t-67,448t/month, Agremgas figures show.</p><p>Colombia was expected to import 9,100 t/month in July-December 2021, but infrastructure delays and Covid-19-related issues delayed Ecopetrol's plans to start diverting LPG until January from an initial August deadline, Agremas director Felipe Gomez told <i>Argus</i>.</p><p>Ecopetrol's Apiay field will stop supplying about 1,000t/month to the domestic market in January. And the 250,000 b/d Barrancabermeja refinery will gradually reduce LPG supply from 9,660t/month in second quarter 2021 to 6,230t/month in first quarter 2023. Supply will fall to around 500t/month in 2025, Agremgas figures showed.</p><p>By 2024, import infrastructure will be insufficient, Alejandro Martinez, director of the Colombia's LPG association Gasnova, said today at the group's international LPG summit.</p><p>The G5 consortium of LPG distributors -- Almagas, Chilco, Inversiones del Nordeste, Montagas and Vidagas -- is doubling import capacity at its Cartagena terminal Okianus to 16,000t/month for use by year-end. With the upgrade, the country's total LPG import capacity will increase to 24,000t/month. Okianus is expected to import around 6,000t/month during second half 2022, gradually rising to 6,400t/month in late 2024, Agremgas says.</p><p>Colombia can also import LPG at Plexaport, in Mamonal near Cartagena, which has an effective storage capacity of 8,000t/month. Plexaport is seen handling 15,000t/month in imports in second half 2022.</p><p>Martinez urged the government to provide incentives to boost LPG production from sources other than Ecopetrol to facilitate long-term contracts and planning.</p><p class="bylines">By Diana Delgado</p></article>
