Stock Markets March 11, 2026

Carlyle Agrees to Sell Colombian Producer SierraCol to Prime Infrastructure

Private equity firm exits its Colombian oil venture after years of investment; buyer is Enrique K. Razon Jr.'s infrastructure arm

By Derek Hwang CG
Carlyle Agrees to Sell Colombian Producer SierraCol to Prime Infrastructure
CG

Carlyle has reached an agreement to sell SierraCol, its Colombian oil-producing unit, to Prime Infrastructure Capital—an infrastructure arm linked to Filipino businessman Enrique K. Razon Jr.—for an undisclosed amount. Carlyle established SierraCol in 2020 after acquiring assets from Occidental Petroleum and later invested roughly $1 billion to stabilise production and lower operational emissions. SierraCol produces a gross 77,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, about 10% of Colombia's total output, and reported $205 million in free cash flow for the 12 months to October 2025 alongside $618 million in net debt.

Key Points

  • Carlyle has agreed to sell SierraCol to Prime Infrastructure Capital, affiliated with Enrique K. Razon Jr., for an undisclosed sum.
  • Carlyle created SierraCol in 2020 after buying assets from Occidental Petroleum and invested about $1 billion to stabilise production and reduce operational emissions.
  • SierraCol’s gross production of 77,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day accounts for roughly 10% of Colombia’s total output; the company reported $205 million in free cash flow for the 12 months to October 2025 and $618 million in net debt.

Private equity firm Carlyle has agreed to divest its Colombian oil producer SierraCol to Prime Infrastructure Capital, the infrastructure unit associated with Filipino businessman Enrique K. Razon Jr., for an undisclosed sum.

Carlyle established SierraCol in 2020 after purchasing assets from Occidental Petroleum. Since then, the firm says it has channelled roughly $1 billion into SierraCol, primarily to support the company’s existing asset base, steady net production at roughly 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, and cut operational emissions.

SierraCol’s gross production sits at about 77,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, which represents approximately 10% of Colombia’s overall output. The company reported $205 million in free cash flow for the 12 months to October 2025 and carried net debt of $618 million, according to figures posted on SierraCol’s own website.

Prior to the transaction, Carlyle had been seeking a higher valuation for the Colombian business; unnamed sources in 2025 indicated the private equity group had sought roughly $1.5 billion for SierraCol.

The sale comes amid broader activity by Carlyle in the oil and gas sector. In January, the firm reached a non-binding, initial agreement to acquire most international assets from the sanctioned Russian company Lukoil and to combine its European refining platform Moeve with the downstream operations of Portuguese energy company Galp.

Commenting on the firm’s approach to energy deals, Bob Maguire, co-head of Carlyle International Energy Partners (CIEP), said: "This is where our track record is strong and I expect to continue that. We have a clear playbook for executing complex carve-outs and strengthening these businesses." Maguire added that CIEP did not hold fixed views on the split of future investment between downstream and upstream opportunities.

CIEP managing director Parminder Singh said it has been difficult in the current market to secure assets from larger oil companies, which have been prioritising the replenishment of their own oil and gas reserves while cutting back on low-carbon projects.

Prime Infrastructure Capital operates across energy, waste and water infrastructure. Financial details of the SierraCol purchase were not disclosed.


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Risks

  • Valuation uncertainty - the sale price was not disclosed and prior reports indicated Carlyle had sought around $1.5 billion, leaving market valuation and return clarity unresolved; impact on private equity and energy investment markets.
  • Market access constraints - CIEP management indicated difficulty in extracting assets from major oil companies as those majors prioritize reserve replenishment and reduce low-carbon investments; impact on M&A activity in the oil and gas sector.
  • Balance sheet and cash flow considerations - SierraCol carried net debt of $618 million despite $205 million in free cash flow over the 12 months to October 2025, presenting potential financing and operational risks for the new owner; impact on oil and gas financing and credit markets.

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