Procuraduría urges ANLA to set Hidroituango rules amid El Niño

Colombia's Procuraduría General de la Nación has again pressed the environmental licensing authority ANLA to decide on Hidroituango's request to temporarily modify reservoir operation rules, as the Ideam estimates an 82% probability that El Niño will consolidate, potentially affecting energy generation and water availability Source: El Tiempo. The request, filed June 12, 2026, seeks to raise the reservoir to its maximum level of 420 meters above sea level between October and November 2026 Source: El Tiempo.

Key concerns

• Under the current Resolution 2306 of 2019, reaching the 420-meter level would take 187 days on average, versus about 50 days under the older Resolution 1891 of 2009, potentially limiting stored water during low-flow periods Source: La República.
• This could reduce the national grid's response capacity in an extreme water deficit and affect reserves for early 2027 Source: La República.
• The Procuraduría gave ANLA five business days to report on the evaluation's status and the technical, legal, and environmental criteria behind the decision Source: La República.

Next steps

The Procuraduría will promote a high-level meeting with ANLA and the Ministry of Mines to analyze conditions for raising the reservoir level, preceded by a preparatory meeting between EPM and the environmental delegate Source: El Tiempo. Meanwhile, Hidroituango reports 95.70% physical progress, with units 1–4 in commercial operation contributing 1,200 MW Source: El Tiempo. The ANLA had already required Hidroituango to update its contingency plan and operation rule via Auto 002170 Source: El Tiempo.