News and AnalysIs for

In light of new discoveries in departments like Sucre while supply from La Guajira declines, gas transporters TGI and Promigas both have significant investment plans to expand the gas infrastructure network. Both still await authorities to take bigger steps forward.

In Havana, government negotiators and the FARC have returned to negotiations in the 36th round of talks, while Senator Alvaro Uribe has taken a much warmer position on the government’s handling of the peace talks.

Acquisitions of Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) ordinary shares by a financial group has caught the attention of local press, while a reported proxy battle for control of Gran Tierra Energy (TSX:GTE) has caught the interest of analysts.

Corrales locals speak out against deteriorating roads and authorities call on Coviandes to react to the high amount of deaths occurring on the Villavicencio-Bogotá highway. These and other stories in our periodic roundup of road-related issues.

Government and industry indifference to public opinion on unconventional resource development continues and last week our Net Promoter Score even dipped below 0.

The Minister of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) Tomás González made a visit to a mayors meeting in Yopal to announce the distribution of financial assistance to oil producing municipalities affected by the drop in oil prices. Over 50 municipal mayors attended the meeting in Yopal.

Referenced as a key benchmark looking forward to keep Colombia’s reserves fresh, the number of exploratory wells drilled in 2015 is down 83.3% compared to the previous year.

The Interior Ministry’s Vice Minister has called for hydrocarbons sector participation in regional development, meanwhile Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) develops an agribusiness collective. These and other stories on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in our periodic summary.

The collapse of oil prices and Colombia-specific challenges meant a very-reduced attendance at the 5^th Colombia Oil&Gas Conference in Cartagena. We assume MinMinas Gonzalez appreciated this as he gave the keynote address.

The XVIII Congress of the Colombian Natural Gas Association (Naturgas) has provoked a discussion on the future of the industry, on subsidies, delays in regulations and licensing, and how to prioritize the use of propane or natural gas.