In line with its commitment to mitigate climate change and advance with the energy transition, Colombian company Ecopetrol Group has announced its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 for scopes 1 and 2.

Under this new ambitious goal, the company ratifies its responsibility with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and with the Paris Agreement’s purpose of curtailing global warming.

The 2050 objective has intermediate goals and a short, medium and long term portfolio, with some projects already implemented or in a research stage.

By 2030, Ecopetrol Group seeks to reduce its carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions by 25 per cent (scopes 1 and 2) compared to a 2019 baseline. According to the estimated emissions projected by 2030, this reduction would represent between 5 and 6 million tonnes of CO2e reductions in this decade. In addition, this goal would contribute close to 50 per cent of the reduction goal set by the Colombian energy/mining sector by the year 2030.

Ecopetrol also seeks to reduce 50 per cent of its total emissions by 2050 (scopes 1, 2 and 3).

Ecopetrol Group’s goal contributes significantly to the commitment recently announced by Colombia to reduce 51 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030.

The emission reduction goals for the three scopes (1, 2 and 3) will be measured in terms of absolute reductions, and will be periodically reviewed against the progress, maturity and competitiveness of emerging technologies, as well as the evolution of the business plan of the company and its Corporate Strategy.

Ecopetrol CEO, Felipe Bayón, said the new goals demonstrate Ecopetrol Group’s commitment to face the world’s great environmental challenges, and to an orderly and ambitious energy transition.

“Our objective is to become a comprehensive energy company strengthening our traditional business, positioned at the forefront in the fight against climate change and the application of knowledge, innovation and technology to lead decarbonisation efforts in Colombia and Latin America,” he said.

“This goal is based on our TESG strategy – a concept we adopted in Ecopetrol that puts technology at the heart of sustainable management in the environmental, social and governance perspectives.”

The development of the goals proposed are part of Ecopetrol Group’s Corporate Strategy, its TESG agenda and the roadmap to promote energy transition, under a detailed decarbonisation plan to ensure its competitiveness and resilience, and seeking portfolio diversification towards low emission business options.

Decarbonisation plan

Ecopetrol is implementing a decarbonisation plan that includes the permanent update of the greenhouse gas emissions inventory, the implementation of an emission reduction portfolio, the definition of the roadmap to achieve a net-zero emissions goal, and the design and execution of an offset portfolio of Natural Climate Solutions.

The latter includes avoided deforestation projects, restoration and reforestation in agroforestry projects, among others. It may also represent numerous social benefits to the territories where this strategy is implemented.

In addition, these projects have the potential to effectively reduce net CO2 emissions and contribute to the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), considering that the main sources of emissions in Colombia are associated with deforestation and land-use changes.

The implementation of this plan has already yielded positive results. Ecopetrol achieved a cumulative reduction of 8.4 million tonnes of CO2e in the 2010 – 2020 period, of which 1.7 million have been verified by a third party.

The result of the last decade was achieved through programs to reduce fugitive emissions and venting, decrease gas flaring, efforts to achieve energy efficiency in operations and incorporating renewable energy projects focused mainly in solar parks.

In the short and medium term, the plan will be complemented by a more robust portfolio of natural climate solutions, as well as biomass initiatives and the development of solar, wind and geothermal energy projects.

In the long term, Ecopetrol Group plans to develop initiatives related to hydrogen, carbon capture, use and sequestration and energy storage through batteries, once the competitiveness and effectiveness of these alternatives is achieved.

Greater competitiveness and resilience

The objectives set form a part of Ecopetrol Group’s climate change strategy, which seeks to achieve the following:

• Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in operations and in the value chain.
• Reduce vulnerability of the operation to the effects of climate change.
• Adequately manage risks and identify opportunities associated with climate change and the energy transition.

This strategy considers Colombia’s climate change policies and plans, in alignment with the main international standards on the matter such as the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Ecopetrol has initial estimates of costs and emission abatement potential for each of the alternatives proposed in the roadmap. Ecopetrol will integrate these inputs in its business plan in the medium and long term, in order to take the necessary measures to ensure the company’s value creation, cash protection and competitiveness. The use of new sources of capital for green investments will be sought as part of this strategy.

Roadmap

Mature technologies that are currently available – as well as emerging technologies with good prospects – were considered to define the actions that support Ecopetrol Group’s new goals.

Emission reducing potential and its cost-effectiveness in the short term (2025), medium term (2030) and long term (2050) have been evaluated for each technology mentioned in the zero-emissions roadmap.

Below is the company’s proposed net-zero emissions roadmap:

2020-2025:

1. Permanently update its inventory of emissions from direct operations, subsidiaries and non-operated assets, including those associated with scope 3 emissions.
2. Implement energy efficiency, reduction of fugitive emissions, venting and flaring, and renewable energies (solar, wind and geothermal) initiatives.
3. Identify additional energy efficiency, reduction of flaring and biomass initiatives.
4. Develop a portfolio of natural climate solutions.
5. Launch a green hydrogen pilot project.

2025-2030:

1. Implement additional technological options in energy efficiency, reduction of fugitive emissions, venting and flaring, fuel substitution and renewable energies (solar, wind and geothermal) initiatives.
2. Further develop natural climate solutions portfolio.
3. Gradually escalate green hydrogen and carbon capture, use and sequestration pilots – if the technologies are competitive.

2030-2050:

1. Capitalise on technological advances and cost competitiveness of green hydrogen, carbon sequestration and renewable energy with battery storage.
2. Continue to develop its natural climate solutions portfolio.

In addition to the projects and initiatives to reduce emissions associated with Scopes 1 and 2, Ecopetrol will carry out a comprehensive analysis of the following options regarding Scope 3 emissions:

1. Increase the share of gas in the Group’s portfolio.
2. Redirection of refining streams towards petrochemicals according to value addition.
3. Renewable hydrogen to replace gasoline and diesel.
4. Low carbon fuels.
5. Emissions management throughout the supply chain.