Ecopetrol obtains authorisation for a $500mn loan with Banco Santander

Ecopetrol received approval from the Ministry of Finance to contract a $500mn loan with Banco Santander, intended to cover non-investment expenses under its 2025 financing plan.

Partagez:

Ecopetrol S.A., the Colombian oil company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Colombian Stock Exchange, obtained authorisation from the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (MHCP) to conclude a loan agreement for a maximum amount of USD500mn ($500mn). The approval was formalised through Resolution 0910 issued on April 25, 2025.

The company specified that the loan will be concluded with Banco Santander, S.A., for a term of five years. The principal repayment will be made in a single instalment at maturity, and interest will be calculated according to the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).

Use of funds and legal framework

The funds from this loan will be used for non-investment expenses, in line with Ecopetrol’s 2025 financing plan and the MHCP Resolution. This approach also aims to meet the annual Gross Debt/EBITDA ratio target.

The loan agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. Ecopetrol indicated that it complied with all required internal procedures to obtain authorisation, including the submission of contract documents for review by the Ministry of Finance.

Financial context and outlook

Ecopetrol highlighted that the financial conditions obtained reflect the support and confidence of the international banking sector in the Group’s strategy. The current market context is marked by financial and economic challenges, reinforcing the importance of securing financing conditions considered favourable.

The agreement is part of Ecopetrol’s ongoing efforts to ensure the stability of its financial structure while maintaining its operational commitments.

British company Prax Group has filed for insolvency, putting hundreds of jobs at its Lindsey oil site at risk, according to Sky News.
Orlen announces the definitive halt of its Russian oil purchases for the Czech Republic, marking the end of deliveries by Rosneft following the contract expiry, amid evolving logistics and diversification of regional supply sources.
Equinor and Shell launch Adura, a new joint venture consolidating their main offshore assets in the United Kingdom, aiming to secure energy supply with an expected production of over 140,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day.
Equinor announces a new oil discovery estimated at between 9 and 15 mn barrels at the Johan Castberg field in the Barents Sea, strengthening the reserve potential in Norway's northern region.
Sierra Leone relaunches an ambitious offshore exploration campaign, using a 3D seismic survey to evaluate up to 60 potential oil blocks before opening a new licensing round as early as next October.
Faced with recurrent shortages, Zambia is reorganising its fuel supply chain, notably issuing licences for operating new tanker trucks and service stations to enhance national energy security and reduce external dependence.
The closure of the Grangemouth refinery has triggered a record increase in UK oil inventories, highlighting growing dependence on imports and an expanding deficit in domestic refining capacity.
Mexco Energy Corporation reports an annual net profit of $1.71mn, up 27%, driven by increased hydrocarbon production despite persistently weak natural gas prices in the Permian Basin.
S&P Global Ratings lowers Ecopetrol's global rating to BB following Colombia's sovereign downgrade, while Moody’s Investors Service confirms the group's Ba1 rating with a stable outlook.
Shell group publicly clarifies it is neither considering discussions nor approaches for a potential takeover of its British rival BP, putting an end to recent media speculation about a possible merger between the two oil giants.
The anticipated increase in the tax deduction rate may encourage independent refineries in Shandong to restart fuel oil imports, compensating for limited crude oil import quotas.
Petro-Victory Energy Corp. starts drilling of the AND-5 well in the Potiguar Basin, Brazil, as the first phase of an operation financed through its strategic partnership with Azevedo & Travassos Energia.
The Texan Port of Corpus Christi has completed major widening and deepening work designed to accommodate more supertankers, thus strengthening its strategic position in the US market for crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports.
BP Prudhoe Bay Royalty Trust is offering its interest in Prudhoe Bay, North America’s largest oil field, as part of its planned dissolution, assisted by RedOaks Energy Advisors for this strategic asset transaction.
CNOOC Limited’s Hong Kong subsidiary and KazMunayGas have concluded a nine-year exploration and production contract covering nine hundred and fifty-eight square kilometres in Kazakhstan, sharing investment and operations equally.
Donald Trump announced that the United States will no longer oppose Chinese purchases of Iranian oil, immediately triggering a drop in global crude oil prices and profoundly reshaping international energy trade partnerships.
Research firm S&P Global Commodity Insights lifts its outlook for the fourth straight year, betting on three point five mn barrels per day from 2025 despite lower prices.
Enbridge plans to expand its infrastructure to increase oil transportation from the American Midwest to the Gulf Coast, anticipating rising exports and addressing current market logistical constraints.
US commercial crude inventories significantly decline by 3.1 million barrels, widely surpassing initial forecasts and immediately pushing international oil prices higher.
The UK could have hydrocarbon reserves twice as large as current official estimates, according to Offshore Energies UK, highlighting the impact of fiscal policies on forecasts and the economic future of the North Sea.