Capital expenditures
In the past, we have funded our capital expenditures with proceeds from equity offerings, credit facilities, debt issuances and pre-sale agreements, as well as through cash generated from our operations. We expect to incur substantial expenses and capital expenditures as we develop our oil and natural gas prospects and acquire additional assets. See “Item 4. Information on the Company –B. Business Overview—2022 Strategy and Outlook”.
In the year ended December 31, 2021, we had total capital expenditures, related to purchase of property, plant and equipment, of US$129.3 million (US$119.9 million, US$4.3 million, US$0.1 million and US$5.0 million in Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Ecuador, respectively).
In the year ended December 31, 2020, we had total capital expenditures, related to purchase of property, plant and equipment, of US$75.3 million (US$61.6 million, US$11.9 million, US$0.7 million, US$0.4 million, US$0.4 million and US$0.3 million in Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador, respectively).
Cash flows
The following table sets forth our cash flows for the periods indicated:
| | | | | | |
| | Year ended December 31, |
| | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 |
|
| | (in thousands of US$) |
Cash flows from (used in) | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | 216,777 | | 168,699 | | 235,429 |
Investing activities | | (126,558) | | (347,633) | | (119,250) |
Financing activities | | (190,442) | | 271,145 | | (132,460) |
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | | (100,223) | | 92,211 | | (16,281) |
Cash flows from operating activities
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash flows from operating activities were US$216.8 million, a 28% increase from US$168.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, mainly resulting from the increase in revenues of oil reflecting higher oil and gas prices in 2021, partially offset by the cash taxes payments made during 2021.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash flows from operating activities were US$168.7 million, a 28% decrease from US$235.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, mainly resulting from the decrease in revenues of oil reflecting lower oil and gas prices in 2020, partially offset by the cost reduction initiatives carried during 2020.
Cash flows used in investing activities
For the year ended December 31, 2021, cash flows used in investing activities were US$126.6 million, an 64% decrease from US$347.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease is primarily explained by the fact that we did not acquire any business in 2021 (US$272.3 million in 2020) partially offset by an increase of US$54.0 million in capital expenditures related to the purchase of property, plant and equipment.
For the year ended December 31, 2020, cash flows used in investing activities were US$347.6 million, a 192% increase from US$119.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase was primarily related to the acquisition of Amerisur for US$272.3 million in January 2020.
Cash flows (used in) from financing activities
Cash flows used in financing activities were US$190.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021, compared to US$271.1 million from financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2020. This decrease was principally related to the execution of a series of transactions that included a successful tender to purchase US$255.0 million of the 2024