HOUSTON, March 20 (Reuters) - A pause in licensing for

oil and gas exploration areas in Colombia could hit the

country's future availability of natural gas, possibly

increasing the need for imports, said on Wednesday the head of

gas transporter Promigas, Juan Manuel Rojas.

President Gustavo Petro's administration has not organized

new bidding rounds for conventional oil and gas exploration,

while pushing some companies to revive at least 21 suspended

contracts.

In September, Colombia's first-ever bidding round to license

maritime blocks for offshore wind farms was delayed.

Promigas transports about 56% of Colombia's natural gas

output and operates Colombia's only regasification plant.