EXMAR has announced the signing of contracts with Regasificadora Del Pacífico S.A.S. for the deployment of a floating storage unit on Colombia’s west coast. The agreement represents a significant development in Colombia’s energy infrastructure, supporting the country’s efforts to enhance energy security through diversified gas supply sources.
RDP is developing a fast-track LNG import solution in the inner bay of Buenaventura, operating under a term contract signed with Ecopetrol S.A. in February 2025. The arrangement will provide regasification and logistics services for a volume of 60 million cubic feet per day of gas, addressing Colombia’s growing energy needs through imported LNG.
Innovative Logistics Solution
The project employs an innovative approach to LNG importation and distribution. The solution centres on the deployment of a floating LNG storage and offloading unit, where LNG will be transferred from LNG carriers and subsequently loaded into isotainers for transportation to the port of Buenaventura D.E. by barge.
From the port, the isotainers will be loaded onto trucks and transported to the regasification plant in Buga, where the LNG will be regasified and injected into Colombia’s National Transport System. This multi-modal logistics approach enables efficient distribution of imported gas throughout the country’s existing infrastructure network.
The solution provides Ecopetrol with access to a new source of imported gas, contributing significantly to Colombia’s overall energy security by diversifying supply sources and reducing dependence on domestic production alone.
Contract Structure and Operations
Under the agreement, EXMAR will lease the FSU to RDP while providing comprehensive operational support. EXMAR’s experienced operation and maintenance teams have been entrusted with the management of the FSU under contracts with a firm duration of 5 years, including options to extend the arrangement beyond the initial term.
The contracts were formally signed in Eemshaven, the Netherlands, during a visit by Colombian stakeholders to the LNG import facility of EemsEnergyTerminal, where EXMAR’s Eemshaven LNG unit is currently deployed. This location provided an opportunity for the Colombian delegation to observe similar operations in practice.
Project Timeline and Conditions
The Buenaventura LNG project and underlying contracts with EXMAR remain subject to final investment decision and other customary conditions precedent. These conditions are expected to be resolved in the fourth quarter of 2025, enabling the project to move forward to implementation and deployment phases.
The timeline reflects the complex nature of international LNG infrastructure projects, which require comprehensive regulatory approvals and financial arrangements before proceeding to operational phases.
Leadership Perspectives
Carl-Antoine Saverys, EXMAR’s CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership opportunity. “EXMAR is excited to embark on this journey with the experienced project development teams of the RDP group,” Saverys stated. “We are confident that the combined strengths of EXMAR’s expertise and RDP’s project development experience in Colombia will offer an innovative LNG import solution.”
Oscar Isaza, RDP’s president, emphasised both the commercial and community significance of the agreement. “The signing of this contract not only marks a milestone for RDP as a maritime logistics company, but it is even more significant and decisive to have the endorsement of more than 60 community, union, educational, and institutional leaders from Buenaventura and Buga,” Isaza explained.
Community Engagement and Sustainable Development
Isaza highlighted the importance of community support and responsible project implementation. “For RDP it is essential to partner with EXMAR to coordinate and implement the project in a responsible way,” he noted. “Today, we strengthen the integration of both companies and demonstrate the sustainable development we can achieve by working together.”
The broad community endorsement, spanning more than 60 community, union, educational, and institutional leaders from both Buenaventura and Buga, demonstrates the project’s potential positive impact on local communities and regional economic development.
Strategic Significance
The partnership between EXMAR and RDP represents a strategic collaboration that combines international LNG expertise with local project development capabilities. EXMAR brings extensive experience in floating LNG infrastructure and operations, while RDP contributes deep knowledge of Colombian regulatory environments and logistics networks.
The project supports Colombia’s broader energy strategy by providing flexible, scalable access to international LNG markets, enhancing the country’s ability to meet growing gas demand while maintaining energy security through supply diversification.
For more information visit www.exmar.com
