Furthermore, it is worth noting that thanks to the refinancing efforts undertaken throughout the year, the gross debt to EBITDA indicator at the end of the third quarter was 1.7 times. At the same time, debt maturities for 2023 have been fully refinanced, and we continue progress in refinancing the 2024 maturities. With this, we continue to maintain a gross debt to EBITDA ratio below the 2.5 times long-term level. I want to highlight that rating agencies have maintained Ecopetrol’s rating, corroborating the Company’s solid financial profile, excellent operating performance across all segments and business lines, and proven access to the global capital markets. Please continue to the next slide. Our commitment to TESG creates value for the Company and enables our energy business in the long run.
With regards to the environment, and specifically in terms of our holistic approach to responsible water management, leading up to the third quarter of this year, we reused 114 million cubic meters of water in our operations, which means that the Company avoided the capture and or discharge of this water volume, thus reducing pressure on water resources. This amount equals to 79% of the total water required to operate. The results were achieved thanks to the implementation of best practices in the reuse and recirculation of water at the Barrancabermeja and Cartagena refineries, as well as our production fields. In line with our ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, as of the third quarter of this year, and using 2020 as our benchmark, we achieved a cumulative greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 1.33 million tons of CO2 equivalent in our direct emissions, scope one and two, mainly in the upstream and downstream segments.
This result was achieved through initiatives focused on reducing flaring and venting, improving energy efficiency, and through the use of renewable energies. With regards to our ambition to generate more renewable energy for self-consumption and to promote the use of cleaner energies, our goal is to incorporate 900 megawatts by 2025. Currently, we have 208 megawatts in operation. We successfully completed the construction of seven megawatts at the Cartagena solar farm and currently have an additional 94 megawatts under construction. Regarding social development, we highlight the creation of 4,442 non-oil jobs and a TESG-related investment of COP 1.33 trillion by the end of the third quarter, mainly through investments in items just mentioned, as well as in energy efficiency, better fuel quality, and investments in biodiversity.
By the third quarter of the year, 36% of Ecopetrol’s investments were allocated to energy transition initiatives, with 51% of these resources invested in the transmission and toll roads business line, 30% invested in natural gas, and 19% allocated to TESG initiatives. I now give the floor to Alberto Consuegra, who will lead you through our most significant milestones in the hydrocarbons business line.
Alberto Consuegra: Thank you, Milena. At the end of the third quarter, the 2023 exploration campaign was 60% complete, with the drilling of 15 exploratory wells, one of them located in the Caribbean offshore, two in the Piedmont Basin, and two in northern Colombia, all with gas potential. Also, 10 wells were drilled in the Llanos Orientales Basin with liquid hydrocarbons potential. In 2023, we achieved 10 exploratory successes, of which I would like to highlight the following. Glaucus 1 well, located in the southern Colombian Caribbean in the Coal 5 block, operated by Shell, in which Ecopetrol has a 50% interest. The Glaucus 1 well confirmed the presence of natural gas in a new accumulation in Block Coal 5, where the Kronos 1, Purple Angel 1, and Gorgon 2 wells are located.
Also, four crude oil successes in the Llanos Orientales Basin, three operated by Geopark, partner of our subsidiary, Hocol. Those are Zorzal 1, Saltador 1, and Toritos 1, and the Kimera 1 well, operated by Ecopetrol in partnership with Repsol. On the offshore front, we continue the evaluation and appraisal plan for the Uchuba 1 discovery, which is expected to be executed in 2024. We also expect to start drilling the Orca Norte 1 well, operated by Ecopetrol, in November of this year. To date, the 2023 exploratory campaign has a success rate of 45%, which is above the industry average. Let’s move on to the next slide, please. During the third quarter of the year, we achieved the production of 741,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, an increase of 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day compared to the same period of the previous year.
These results are driven by the incremental production from Caño Sur, Rubiales, and the Permian Basin, as well as the solid performance of secondary recovery fields, such as Castilla and Chichimene. In particular, I would like to highlight that production via secondary and tertiary recovery technologies contributed around 40% of the Ecopetrol group’s production from 23 assets, including water injection at Chichimene and Castilla fields. We are also maintaining our focus on efficiency. As of September 2023, the upstream segment achieved COP 1.8 trillion in efficiencies, accounting for 61% of the Ecopetrol group total efficiencies, thanks to the execution of initiatives that have allowed us to reduce drilling completion and dilution costs. The lifting cost increased around $2.72 per barrel versus the third quarter of 2022, mainly explained by higher inflation reflected in the increase in electricity tariffs and contracted services, partially offset by efficiencies totaling $0.24 per barrel.
