Innovation in the fishing sector in La Guajira, Colombia featured in new COLGAS Podcast “I Believe in Energy that Connects”

This pilot initiative made it possible to provide outboard motors to artisanal fishermen, strengthening their productive capacities and significantly improving their quality of life. The engines, which run on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), represent an innovation for artisanal fishing by reducing CO₂ emissions by around 150 kg per boat per year and lowering fuel costs by at least 25%, generating both economic and environmental benefits. This initiative allowed us to bring innovation to isolated areas in La Guajira and convert traditional engines to LPG engines as a pilot project.  

The event also featured the launch of the podcast “Yo Creo en la Energía que Conecta” (I Believe in Energy that Connects), with the participation of Aricelis Martínez, Innovation Manager at COLGAS, and Jorge Tejeda, Country Coordinator for GOAL in Colombia, who discussed how creativity and collaboration drive social transformation.  

“Connecting communities in an ecosystem of innovation, which is happening, is what is interesting. Where ethnic populations, with difficult access to technology, live safely trying to improve their quality of life, the focus is on the management of marine and coastal resources. Together with COLGAS, we took on this great challenge as an organisation that wants to make sustainable changes in these territories,” said Tejeda.  

The Podcast was developed in four thematic blocks:  

·                  Innovation in action: how the alliance came about and how it went from being an idea to being implemented.   

·                  Inclusion and sustainable development: the value of integrating vulnerable communities into innovation models.   

·                  Governance and shared purpose: lessons learned about coherent and sustainable alliances.   

·                  Future and scalability: the challenges of turning innovation into purpose. 

The event was attended by representatives from embassies, international organizations, government agencies, companies, investors, and foundations, generating synergies to advance Colombia’s energy transition. In addition, cooperation commitments and a shared agenda aimed at accelerating projects with social, economic, and environmental impact were consolidated.  

 “Today we demonstrated that energy is not only produced but also connected. The commitments that emerged from this meeting allow us to plan joint initiatives that will strengthen Colombia’s energy security and its path to sustainability,” said Aricelis Martínez, Innovation Manager at COLGAS.  

At GOAL, we continue to promote coordinated actions that foster community sustainability and strengthen projects in the territories where we work in Colombia.