Joaquín Gutiérrez cited national reserves of 7.4 years in oil and 5.9 years in gas.
The new president of Ecopetrol, Joaquín Gutiérrez, issued a warning regarding Colombia's oil and gas reserves during an official ceremony in Santa Marta on September 25, 2026.
Speaking at an event led by Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, Gutiérrez stated that the country faces a narrow energy horizon. He cited national reserves of just 7.4 years for oil and 5.9 years for natural gas.
Gutiérrez stated that boosting reserves will be a primary focus for his management team. He pledged to leave the state-controlled energy company with sufficient reserves for future decades and to protect domestic energy sovereignty.
According to official company figures, Ecopetrol closed 2025 with 1,944 million barrels of oil equivalent in proved reserves. That total represented an average reserve life of 7.8 years and a reserve replacement ratio of 121%.
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