The case of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina

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The San Andrés Archipelago can boast of approaching universal electricity coverage. Almost 100% of its 52.2 km 2 have the electricity they need to light homes and drive the tourist industry that energizes the department. However, it faces challenges, which can be counteracted with an energy efficiency program. San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina are the three main islands that make up the Archipelago, in addition to more than 20 keys and islets. Located in the Caribbean Sea, the Archipelago is the main island territory of Colombia and is the only department of the country that is not located on the continental territory. Its capital, San Andrés Island, is located 720 km northwest of the Colombian Caribbean coast.


Due to its status as an island territory, the Archipelago is part of the Non-Interconnected Zones (ZNI), and faces similar challenges in the provision of electrical service to those in rural areas that are C Level Executive List difficult to access in the continental territory . Among these we can highlight: (i) distance from urban and consumption centers; (ii) reduced payment capacity of the population; (iii) high cost of electricity service, mainly due to the use of liquid fuels (diesel) and its high transportation cost; and (iv) high fiscal cost due to subsidies for diesel for generation and electricity consumption for all sectors. Map San Andrés Source : Taken from Google Earth IDB support to improve efficiency and sustainability.



The use of fossil fuels for electricity generation on islands has the traditional drawbacks of the emission of greenhouse gases and their manipulation increases the risk of accidents that can endanger the delicate ecosystem of the territory. For this reason, the Inter-American Development Bank, as part of its energy strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean, designed and approved a pilot program aimed at improving energy efficiency in this area. The Program was developed in conjunction with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, with financing from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) for US$10 million. In its five years of implementation, the Program seeks to reduce the emission of 26 thousand tons of CO 2 in the Archipelago, to improve its energy.