Colombia's Ecopetrol warns of possible natural gas shortage on community roadblocks

SEATTLE (Oil Monster): Colombian state-run energy company Ecopetrol on Monday warned that natural gas supply to the country's northern and central regions could be at risk due to an ongoing roadblock at its Guajira field.

The roadblock, which kicked off three weeks ago, could cause Ecopetrol to halt production at the site, which puts out 70 million cubic feet of gas per day, the firm said in a statement issued with subsidiary Hocol.

Ecopetrol said that the situation has recently escalated, "putting at risk the physical integrity of the 26 workers who remain on-site."

The Carrapinapule community, behind the roadblocks, is making demands directed at the state, Ecopetrol said, including on potable water, education and school transport.

Colombia is facing a deficit in natural gas production, causing it to boost imports of the fuel to meet domestic demand.

Commercialized production of natural gas fell more than 10% in September year-over-year to 814 million cubic feet per day, according to the national hydrocarbons agency.

 Courtesy: www.reuters.com