News and AnalysIs for

Eight popular consultations to decide the future of mining projects in Colombia had been developed this year, where the ‘No’ has consistently won. The most recent, in Sucre (Santander), will be the ninth.

Colombia’s Attorney General is investigating several officials of Hupecol Operating Co. for possible environmental damage.

The Northeastern Regional Border Autonomous Corporation (Corponor) described the three attacks on the Coveñas Caño Limón pipeline as “truly alarming,” and reported damage to the municipalities of Teorama, El Tarra and Tibú (Norte de Sandander). The development of these and more stories in our periodic Eco summary.

The Colombian oil sector has been key for the country’s economy, but its future is uncertain, as popular referendums and social unrest are putting its development at risk. Sergio Cabrales Arévalo, Doctor and Researcher in Administration of the Andes University, made an analysis of the sector’s future.

Antoine Halff, researcher at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and former lead analyst for the International Energy Agency (IEA), spoke about the situation of the industry in Colombia.

GasThe construction of regasification plants in the country has generated much debate. The controversy over the possibility of a new plant in the Pacific remains latent.

GasDuring the presentation of Promigas’18^threport on natural gas, Deputy Minister of Energy (MinMinas) Rutty Paola Ortiz said that the regulation to develop shale gas is ready, and it considers all aspects so that this technique can be applied safely.

GasOne of the government’s major concerns is to guarantee energy self-sufficiency, and gas and oil reserves have been a subject of much debate in Colombia. Antonio Celia, President of Promigas, spoke about gas reserves and his perspectives.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) and Frontera Energy (TSE: FEC)spoke about the CSR projects that they are successfully developing in their areas of influence. These and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stories in our periodic summary.

Senator of the U Party, Maritza Martínez, asked the government and the industry to stop stigmatizing popular consultations because they are a citizen participation mechanism that allows locals to defend their natural resources.