Termoguajira power station
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Termoguajira power station (Central Térmica Termoguajira) is an operating power station of at least 290-megawatts (MW) in Dibulla, la Guajira, Colombia. It is also known as TG1 and TG2.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Termoguajira power station | Dibulla, Dibulla, la Guajira, Colombia | 11.262213, -73.415568 (exact) |
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2: 11.262213, -73.415568
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Operating | coal: bituminous, fossil gas: natural gas | 145 | subcritical | 1983 | 2037 (planned)[1] |
| Unit 2 | Operating | coal: bituminous, fossil gas: natural gas | 145 | subcritical | 1987 | 2037 (planned)[1] |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Operator | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Gecelca[2] | Gecelca SA ESP [100%][2] | Gecelca SA ESP [100.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Gecelca[2] | Gecelca SA ESP [100%][2] | Gecelca SA ESP [100.0%] |
Ownership Tree
This ownership tree is part of the Global Energy Ownership Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.
Background
The plant is owned and operated by Colombian public utility company Gecelca S.A. and consists of two 145 MW units.[3] The first and second units began operations in 1983 and 1987, respectively.[4] The coal used to fuel the plant reportedly comes from mines in Puerto Libertador, Córdoba department.[5] Reportedly, the plant sometimes burns gas as a backup fuel. [3]
Gecelca's interim financial statements from March 2023-2024 stated that the company planned to decommission its Termoguajira power station in 2037.[6]
Impact on Environment
A media report from May 2025 emphasized the significant negative impact of the plant's operations by releasing toxic gases, such as sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, which affect the health of crops and animals. Pollution has had serious effects on the health of local residents, including respiratory problems (43.8% of cases), cardiovascular problems (27.5%), and cancer (12.5%). According to the former official of Gecela, "the main pollutants emitted are carbon particles (74.2%), sulfur dioxide (21.1%), and heavy metals such as mercury (4.7%) and arsenic (1.9%). Pollution has also affected local biodiversity, especially in aquatic ecosystems.[7]
Planned conversion from coal to renewable fuel
In July 2023, Colombia's Minister of Mines and Energy Irene Vélez announced that Termoguajira would be the first Colombian coal plant to fully decarbonize its energy production. Plans called for the plant to adopt renewable technologies including solar panels and energy storage, though many other details remained unclear, including the proposed timeline for the plant's conversion.[8][9][10]
The 2023 Sustainability Report of Colombia's National Association of Generating Companies (ANDEG) published in 2024 also indicated that the Termoguajira power station would transition to 100% carbon-free electricity generation by way of a new solar plant and battery energy storage system.[11]
However as of June 2025 there was no specific news on the planned conversion.[7]
Energy transition legislation
According to Colombia's Legislative Decree 1276 of (July) 2023, which adopted several energy transition measures, the Termoguajira power station would begin its transition to renewable energy between 2024 and 2028.[12] While both of the power station's units' "Firm Energy Obligations" (Obligaciónes de Energía en Firme) were set to end in 2025, official retirement dates had not been established as of January 2024.[13]
In November 2023, the Colombian constitutional court declared the Legislative Degree 1276 of 2023 unenforceable, including its articles which dictated Termoguajira's state-financed transition to renewable energy sources.[14]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 (PDF) https://www.gecelca.com.co/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Complete_con_Docusign_eeff_completos_gecelca.pdf.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 https://www.gecelca.com.co/unidad-de-negocios/generacion/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Generación". Gecelca, S.A. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Gecelca". ANDEG (Asociación Nacional de Empresas Generadoras). Retrieved June 9, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Salió de servicio Termoguajira Dos". Caracol Radio. March 17, 2016.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Estados Financieros Separados Intermedios por los periodos terminados el 31 de Marzo de 2024 y 2023, GECELCA S.A. E.S.P., June 2024
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Contaminación de Termoguajira y Puerto Brisa profundiza crisis ambiental y social en Mingueo, La Guajira". www.desdeadentroprensa.com. May 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Termoguajira, primera central que transitará a energía descarbonizada". Portafolio. July 1, 2023.
- ↑ "Ministerio de Minas anunció que Termoguajira transitará hacia la generación de energía descarbonizad". Infobae. July 3, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "En Colombia, anuncian que la central Termoguajira pasará de termoeléctrica a renovable". PV Magazine. July 3, 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Séptimo Informe de Sostenibilidad, ANDEG, 2024
- ↑ Decreto 1276 de 2023 Nivel Nacional, Secretaría Jurídica Distrital, Bogotá, July 31, 2023
- ↑ Colombia tiene las condiciones para una transición del sector eléctrico planeada y progresiva más allá del carbón, POLEN Transiciones Justas, August 2023
- ↑ Comunicado de Prensa No. 43 del 1 y 2 de noviembre de 2023, Corte Constitucional, November 9, 2023
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
