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Unions warn of risks in energy service provision as government confirms Air-e intervention had liquidation goal
🇨🇴 Colombia /Energy & Infrastructure

Unions warn of risks in energy service provision as government confirms Air-e intervention had liquidation goal

From El Tiempo · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Colombian energy sector unions are warning of risks associated with the potential liquidation of Air-e, a company providing electricity services in the Caribbean region.
  • The unions argue that any decision to liquidate Air-e must be supported by thorough technical and legal studies to ensure service continuity and protect users.
  • The Colombian government maintains that the intervention of Air-e, which began in 2025, always included the possibility of liquidation as a potential outcome.

Colombian energy sector unions have voiced strong concerns regarding the potential liquidation of Air-e, the electricity provider for the Atlántico, Magdalena, and La Guajira regions. In a public letter, organizations like Acolgen, Andeg, and Naturgas warned that such a decision could jeopardize the continuity of energy services and harm users.

a decision of that scope must be supported by technical and legal studies that guarantee the continuity of the service and protect the users of the region.

— energy sector unionsThe unions stated their requirement for thorough studies before any liquidation process.

The unions argue that the state's intervention in Air-e, which operates under a "taking of possession" modality, should prioritize finding an "enterprise solution" before considering liquidation. They stressed that a hasty liquidation could undermine the principles behind the state's intervention and create instability in a region already facing significant energy challenges.

the modality of taking of possession under which Air-e was intervened contemplates the obligation to first seek an enterprise solution before moving towards a definitive liquidation.

— energy sector unionsThe unions pointed out the procedural obligations in the intervention of Air-e.

Furthermore, the business associations emphasized the need for clear signals within the electricity market to encourage investments, ensure financial sustainability, and maintain service stability. They called for any decision concerning Air-e's future to be based on rigorous technical analyses aimed at minimizing risks for users, investors, and operators.

a hasty decision could alter the principles that justify state intervention and generate uncertainty in one of the most sensitive energy markets in the country.

— energy sector unionsThe unions warned about the potential negative consequences of a rushed liquidation.

This union stance appears to be a direct response to recent statements by President Gustavo Petro regarding the company's future. The government, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy, has stated that the possibility of liquidating Air-e was always part of the intervention plan, which commenced in 2025. Minister Edwin Palma indicated that liquidation was a foreseen outcome from the outset of the state's involvement with the company.

the possibility of liquidating Air-e does not constitute a novelty within the intervention process that the State is carrying out.

— Edwin PalmaMinister of Mines and Energy Edwin Palma responded to the union's concerns.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Tiempo in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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