Colombia became the 33rd full member of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the OECD’s autonomous technical authority on energy security, on February 19, 2026, after a five‑year accession process. That energy leadership marks Colombia’s rising role in clean transition debates.
The announcement came from Paris. Colombia completed a rigorous evaluation that tested its crisis management, institutional architecture, and technical capabilities, making it the first Latin American country to join the IEA as a full member. The move places Colombia among 32 nations that shape worldwide standards for supply stability and renewables expansion.
Membership requires alignment. Colombia’s energy policy matches the Paris Agreement, with non‑conventional renewables climbing from 2% to 16% of the matrix in the last three and a half years. This progress under President Gustavo Petro’s administration reflects a shift from fossil fuel dependence toward decarbonization and social equity.
Accession built Colombia’s energy resilience
The process started in 2021. Colombia strengthened tools like the Demand Restriction Program and the Energy Emergencies Manual, which guide responses to shortages or price spikes. Coordination fell to the National Planning Department, acting as the OECD’s technical secretariat in Colombia.
Several institutions worked together. The Ministries of Mines and Energy, Finance, Transport, and Foreign Affairs joined forces with the Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME) and the National Hydrocarbons Agency to meet IEA standards. Energy Minister Edwin Palma Egea called this a validation of institutional solidity that brings Colombia to the global decision table.
That energy leadership now has institutional backing. The accession shows that Colombia can manage supply risks while pursuing net zero, a balance that attracts investors and protects households from volatility.
Nuestro país fue aceptado como miembro pleno de la Agencia Internacional de la Energía, convirtiéndose en el miembro número 33 del principal organismo global en política energética.
— Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética – UPME (@UPMEOficial) February 19, 2026
Este logro fortalece la seguridad energética y acelera la meta de cero emisiones netas, en línea… https://t.co/mRWp1sy75G
Reactions signal confidence and opportunity
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol welcomed the news. He said Colombia’s dynamic energy sector and strategic position in the Americas will strengthen the agency’s ability to address shared challenges and seize opportunities. The statement underlines that membership involves active contribution, not passive observation.
National Planning Director Natalia Irene Molina added context. She argued that the process proved decarbonization aligns with macroeconomic stability and crisis response capacity, backed by the IEA’s Net Zero Roadmap to 2050. This roadmap serves as Colombia’s guide for a just transition.
Colombia’s biodiversity and climate vulnerability make the step urgent. As one of the world’s most affected nations, the country sees membership as an ethical mandate to lead on clean energy while securing supply. Reactions from officials reflect that dual priority.
Ratification and the path to full influence
Formal steps remain. Colombia will sign the accession instrument, seek Congressional ratification, and deposit it with the depository, after which membership enters force. This process follows standard international treaty procedures.
The outcome carries weight. Full IEA status lets Colombia influence global rules on emergencies, efficiency, and renewables, while gaining access to technical support and market intelligence. For an oil‑dependent economy, that access can guide diversification.
Skeptics note execution challenges. Colombia’s fossil fuel exports still dominate revenue, and renewables growth depends on investment, grid upgrades, and policy consistency amid political cycles. Energy leadership demands sustained action beyond announcements.
Colombia’s IEA membership crowns years of quiet preparation. The country moves from energy consumer to rule‑setter, with renewables at 16% and a net‑zero plan for 2050, in a world where supply shocks test every nation. To this day, that energy leadership will shape whether Colombia turns climate vulnerability into global strength, or whether transition promises yield to fiscal pressures.