Overview
- Petro, in a Tuesday X post, urged turning Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Riohacha into bitcoin mining hubs powered by surplus clean electricity and proposed Wayúu co-ownership.
- The idea remains unconfirmed with no partners, licenses or tariff deals, and Colombia’s next government will decide whether it proceeds after the May 31 election.
- Analysts warn that current industrial power prices near $0.203 per kWh far exceed the roughly $0.05 per kWh miners target, with tropical heat driving up cooling costs.
- Supporters cite Colombia’s grid, which the World Bank says is about 75% renewable, and new wind in La Guajira including Ecopetrol’s Windpeshi project slated to start in 2028.
- Backers point to Paraguay’s hydro model and note U.S. miners are shifting capital toward AI, which could open room for countries that secure cheaper clean power.