Colombia allows Indigenous, minority groups to partner with companies on renewables

BOGOTA, Dec 26 (Reuters) - Colombia will allow Indigenous, rural and other minority communities to form renewable energy generator and commercialization projects and develop joint ventures with private companies or the public sector, the energy ministry said.

Leftist President Gustavo Petro has pledged to turn Colombia away from production of oil and coal, and toward renewables like solar and wind, but environmental licensing delays and determined opposition by some Indigenous Wayuu communities in coastal La Guajira province, where many of the projects are planned, have hampered development.

Some 70% of Colombia's energy comes from hydro-electric projects, with less than 1% coming from other renewables. Oil and coal are its top exports.

Groups participating in the projects can generate energy using renewables or renewable fuels, according to a decree signed on Friday but shared by the ministry on Tuesday.

"The energy communities or associations of energy communities can associate with third parties from the public, private or community sector," the decree said.

Eligible groups include rural farmers and Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, it added, and communities should first seek to provide for their own energy needs with the projects.

If they generate more than they need for themselves, the groups can supply the national grid or export the power.

More than 50 possible wind and solar projects have been announced in Colombia since 2019, with planned generation of some 2.43 gigawatts in wind energy and 0.1 gigawatts in solar. None are yet operating.

Some companies - including Italy's Enel - have indefinitely delayed projects, blaming local protests for hampering billions in investments.

The country this month launched its first bidding round for offshore wind concessions.