Colombia’s Ecopetrol strengthens renewable push with Windpeshi wind project

Ecopetrol has filed a formal bid to acquire the Windpeshi project, held by Enel Colombia, to diversify its portfolio entering the wind energy sector and aligning with global environmental trends.

According to local media La Republica, the project consists of a 205 megawatt (MW) capacity wind farm of more than 40 wind turbines located within a total area of 6,200 hectares, between the municipalities of Uribia and Maicao in the La Guajira region.

New regulatory hurdles and recent developments

The acquisition is subject to review by the Commerce and Industry Superintendence (SIC), the entity that oversees all industrial and commercial practices in Colombia.

As reported by La Republica, Ecopetrol initiated the transaction pre-evaluation process on January 30, 2025, marking the first step in a possible strategic change.

The transaction consists of the transfer from Enel Colombia to Ecopetrol of the Windpeshi project, thereby reinforcing Ecopetrol's presence in renewable energy sources

In May 2023, Enel suspended the construction of the plant after struggles between the reporting authorities and the local communities, who were blocking the building.

The energy enterprise report shows that 50% of the workdays have been interrupted due to construction obstructions in 2021 and 2022, which increased to 60% in the early months of 2023.

Community engagement and challenges

The ongoing barriers emphasize the region's socioeconomic challenges, as residents strive to benefit from energy projects.

From 2022 until May 2023, the Windpeshi site and the Uribia-Wimpeshi route were shut 33 times.

This has caused delays in project timelines and highlighted the importance of improving community relations and stakeholder engagement strategies.

In December 2024, Upme reported that Windpeshi had reached 64% completion.

Unfortunately, 36% of the project's 965-day timeframe has been thrown off track.

This shows not only the logistical problems in the construction but also the urgent need for Ecopetrol and eventual allies to change their plans regarding local actors.

Economic impact and future projections

Due to these delays, the original date for the spacecraft to be operational by November 8, 2021, is now quite far behind.

The estimate was that Windpeshi could start up as late as September 30, 2026.

This extension raises concerns about the project's economic viability and significant investment.

Bancolombia and Ecopetrol have emerged as key investors in the region, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable energy growth.

Ecopetrol's entry into the wind energy space would be one way to bolster its status as it attempts to replace fossil fuels with cleaner energy.

In a global energy landscape rapidly shifting towards decarbonization and renewable energy development, the purchase could place Ecopetrol in a favourable market position in anticipation of supply-demand shifts that will lead global leaders in this increasingly competitive sector.