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As many media reported, MinTransporte Cecilia Álvarez asked the oil companies to move their pipelines that currently hinder infrastructure projects development. Alvarez said that in the case of Pacific Rubiales, it is important to reach an agreement for the company to move its pipelines in the sector I of the Ruta del Sol.

The graph shows the destinations of Ecopetrol’s crude oil exports since early 2011. This is not the whole picture obviously – other companies do not provide this helpful detail – but it is illustrative. From a peak of 77% of exports in 3Q11, the US has diminished as an export destination to less than half, 46%. The US Gulf of Mexico alone has shrunk from 68% to less than 30%. Finally in 4Q11 a new top destination was crowned, the Far East, driven by deals in India and China (although the US as a whole remains the largest customer overall).

Gran Tierra published its 4Q12 and full year 2012 results. As can be seen from the graph, 4Q12 was not a great quarter for Colombian production. The company reported lower production and higher transport costs due to the disruption of the TransAndino pipeline. Although much of the country enjoyed the Farc’s unilateral truce in 4Q12, the guerrilla’s parting gesture was to blow up the pipeline just before announcing the ceasefire. This was a major disruption that was still unrepaired in mid-December and the result can be seen in production.

Since September 27th 2011, Ecopetrol and Pacific Rubiales have disputed the interpretation of a clause in the Quifa Association Contract. According to this clause, which refers to high prices, Ecopetrol should have greater participation in the profits when oil prices rise and the cumulative production reaches 5M barrels; a figure which was reached in April 2011.

As reported by La Republica, Bank of America and JP Morgan made new recommendations to shareholders about the Ecopetrol’s share. Bank of America described the Ecopetrol’s share as “low performance” and reduced its price objective from US$3 to US$2,75, because they expect the company’s performance will continue to decline by 8% per year through 2014. Meanwhile, JP Morgan said: “The combination of a reduction in production, rising security concerns and ongoing delays in environmental permits will impact the company’s ability to deliver a significant increase in production and operations results in the medium term “.

Caracol Radio reported that, according to Bruce Mac Master, director of the Social Prosperity Department, the number of poor people in areas that develop large scale mining projects has increased. Mac Master said that there are over 2.5M people living in poverty in departments as Antioquia, Chocó, Norte de Santander and Boyaca, in which the country’s major mining companies have influence.

National newspaper Portafolio reports that current Mines and Energy vice-minister Tomás González will go to the President’s office, current Finance vice-minister Germán Arce Zapata will go to head the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) and current head of the ANH Orlando Cabrales Segovia will replace Tomás González at Mines and Energy. The movement of Arce was described as absolutely certain, suggesting there was perhaps some doubt about where Orlando Cabrales might go.

Again a speech to the Large Scale Mining conference, which illustrates has the same problem to convince the population, press and opinion leaders that the economic benefit of their participation in the Colombian economy far exceeds the direct and indirect costs of extractive sector activities. From a MinMinas press release, translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.

Although hydrocarbons and mining are completely different, the Large Scale Mining sector faces many of the same public relations challenges that the petroleum sector faces. Political commentators accuse it of polluting and failing to pay its ‘fair share’ for the results of its activities. Communities look to extract services and investment that the Colombian state fails to provide in return for peace. Congressmen look at the sector’s profits and wonder how they can get a bigger slice of the pie for the public purse. In this context, what President Santos might say to the Large Scale Mining’s second annual conference has relevant things to say about the government’s attitude towards resource industries or extractive industries in general.

Caracol Radio reported that a group of congressmen led by Maritza Martinez, Jorge Enrique Robledo, Alexander Lopez and German Navas, presented to the State Council an action to nullify a concept of the Dian (Colombia’s tax authority). This concept allows oil and mining companies to deduct royalties from taxes payment.