The oil and gas industry calls the region “Los Llanos” and it is a flat plane (llanos) extending to and beyond the border with Venezuela. But viewed ecologically it is part of the Orinoco basin, the great river that defines part of the border and eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side of Venezuela. Five rivers flow through the Colombian Llanos and into the Orinoco including such well-known industry names as the Meta, the Arauca and the Guaviare. The economic potential of the region is huge from hydrocarbons to agriculture to rare earths. Pacific Rubiales, the ANDI (the Colombian businesspersons association) and Semana magazine recently convened a forum on the region’s future. From a Pacific Rubiales press release, translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.