Colombia Joins as Newest Member of International Energy Forum

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The International Energy Forum (IEF) today announced that Colombia has joined as the newest full member of the world’s largest organization of energy ministers.

The IEF’s mission is to promote energy dialogue on energy security, market stability and data transparency as well as new technologies and the energy transition. Its members account for 90 percent of global energy trade.

“Energy transition and energy security have been at the heart of the policies implemented by the government of President Iván Duque over the past four years,” said Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy Diego Mesa.

“Today, Colombia is among the countries with the greatest progress towards achieving a cleaner energy mix while also promoting the responsible development of our hydrocarbon resources. This announcement embodies our commitment to continue working with such relevant partners as IEF to boost the energy transition and generate global dialogue around energy security and economic sustainable development,” he added.

Founded 30 years ago to promote dialogue between energy producers and consumers of OPEC and IEA, the IEF today has more members that both groups combined, including many unaligned countries including Argentina, India, South Africa and China.

IEF Secretary General Joseph McMonigle said: “Colombia is a leader in the energy transition and also has significant oil and gas resources to meet the energy needs of the country, so it is a perfect IEF member. Colombia will certainly add value to our dialogue as we face up to the crisis in energy markets and make progress in the transition.”

Colombia announced its intention to join the IEF at an event attended by Minister Mesa and Secretary General McMonigle on the side-lines of the CERA Week conference in Houston in March. The IEF Executive Board, consisting of 30 member countries, ratified Colombia’s membership after its summer meeting in Madrid on June 13.