Official: Colombia advances in geothermal energy bid round

Orlando Velandia said that Colombia has made progress in organizing a bid round for geothermal licenses at a Tuesday industry event held in Cartagena, a Caribbean city.

It is a top priority for the government of President Gustavo Petro, who is a leftist.

Velandia, at the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP)'s forum on oil and gas and energy, said: "We are working with the Ministry (of Mines and Energy) and the Geological Service to structure (a) (bidding round) for geothermal energy."

Velandia said that the process could start by the end this year.

Colombia is currently organizing an offshore wind auction for its Caribbean waters. Velandia said that the accreditation process for this bidding round is expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Velandia, who is in charge of overseeing licenses for Colombia's energy matrix said that the ANH had restored seven oil and gas contracts suspended to normalcy. She added that the ANH worked with communities and companies to prevent the suspension of ten others. Reporting by Oliver Griffin, Editing by Mark Potter

(source: Reuters)