Wood has been awarded a contract by Colombia's majority state-owned oil company, Ecopetrol, to deliver the detailed engineering design for upgrades at its Barrancabermeja refinery in Colombia. The project, known as Línea Base de Calidad de Combustibles (LBCC), or Clean Fuels, aims to improve fuel quality and environmental performance at the facility.

In support of Ecopetrol’s commitment to significantly reduce gasoline sulfur content aligned to national targets, Wood will redesign the refinery infrastructure at the century-old Barrancabermeja refinery to produce cleaner fuels. As Colombia’s main refining center responsible for over 40% of fuels consumed in Colombia, these refinery modifications are essential for achieving energy transition targets.

John Day, President of Projects Western Hemisphere at Wood, commented: “Cleaner fuels are critical as we balance the need for energy security with a lower carbon future. Wood’s redesign of the Barrancabermeja refinery is crucial to Ecopetrol’s 2050 goal of net-zero emissions.

“We have a two-decade history of partnering with Ecopetrol and for the past five years, we have been dedicated to upgrading the clean fuels program. We have a deep understanding of the schedule and delivery requirements to meet Ecopetrol’s goals and enhance air quality in central Colombia.”

The first production of cleaner gasoline at Barrancabermeja is expected by 2030.