News and AnalysIs for

Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) reported low levels of B2E diesel stock for pipeline transport systems due to maintenance activities in the Barrancabermeja Refinery during the first weeks of February. The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) published measures to mitigate this situation and ensure distribution in the country.

The Northeastern Regional Border Autonomous Corporation (Corponor) spoke about the effects that the ELN’s most recent attack had on the Catatumbo River (Norte de Santander). The development of these and more stories in our periodic Eco summary.

The Colombian government presented the National Development Plan (PND) recently, generating several discussions in the country. The fuel prices formula returned to the discussion table in the PND.

The Commission of Experts gave a ‘definitive maybe’ to the development of fracking in Colombia, and the media started to speculate on the matter. Here is what the main national newspapers said.

Gran Tierra Energy (TSX: GTE) started to develop El Portón project, which has generated much controversy. However, the company proactively spoke to the local press about a new well.

The Minister of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) spoke about the benefits that communities in Barrancabermeja and Sucre will receive thanks to royalties’ resources. These and other stories in our periodic Royalties summary.

As we published last week, the MinMinas think-tank and research bureau, UPME, published a long document on energy prices just before Christmas. We have picked a few charts we think are interesting.

Last week we wrote a very high-level summary of the Commission of Expert’s recommendations on fracking. This week we go one level deeper and look at the recommendations in detail. Next week will publish our summary of the commission’s findings and conclusions.

The long-awaited report of the commission of experts was presented to the public Thursday afternoon. We attended. The study concluded there was much opportunity but much uncertainty so the country should run a pilot. Which is what Ecopetrol had proposed last year.

Global warming has generated many debates and the need to reduce the participation of coal in the energy matrix has been one of the main discussion topics. Colombian authorities created a carbon tax, joining the global trend. Orlando Cabrales, President of Naturgas, spoke on this topic and gave some suggestions to change it.