Net profit attributable to equity holders of Ecopetrol
As a result of the foregoing, net profit attributable to the owners of Ecopetrol decreased by 22.6% or COP 2,761,519 million in the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Our principal sources of liquidity in the six-month period ended June 30, 2024 were: (i) net cash provided by operating activities in an amount of COP 23,083,805 million, (ii) cash obtained by the entering into new financing arrangements for an amount of COP 1,939,267 million, (iii) dividends received from Ecopetrol’s subsidiaries in an amount of COP 213,046 million, and (iv) other investment activities in an amount of COP 153,965 million.
Our principal uses of liquidity in the six-month period ended June 30, 2024 were: (i) COP 1,632,287 million for payments of principal and payments of interest of our debt, (ii) COP 8,901,274 million for investments in natural and environmental resources and reserves, and additions to our property, plant and equipment and intangibles, and (iii) dividend payments amounting to COP 12,192,292 million.
For 2024, on a consolidated basis, we expect our major cash needs to include planned capital expenditures ranging between US$5.5 billion (COP 22,814,220 million) and US$6.6 billion (COP 27,377,064 million).
Use of Funds
Capital Expenditures
We plan to meet our budgeted organic capital expenditures for 2024 mainly through cash from internal cash generation.
Cash provided by operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by 343% or COP 17,874,889 million in the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the same period in 2023, mainly as a result of (i) positive performance in most of our segments as described above, and (ii) a decrease in accounts receivable due from the FEPC and the corresponding payments made by the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit.
Cash used in investing activities
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, net cash used in investing activities increased by 3.5% or COP 291,916 million as compared to the same period in 2023. This increase is mainly the result of purchase of financial instruments and lower interest received. This increase was partially offset by lower investments in Natural Resources and Intangibles.
Cash used in (provided by) financing activities
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2024, net cash used in financing activities was COP 14,121,927 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of COP 351,645 million for the same period in 2023, which represents an increase in cash used of COP 13,770,282 million, mainly due to: i) a COP 9,631,724 increase as a result of the payment of dividends, (ii) a COP 375,811 million increase in interest payments, and (iii) a COP 23,925 million increase due to other items. These factors were partially offset by a COP 3,738,822 million decrease related to the proceeds from borrowings net of payments.