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The Amazon region represents both an area with interesting prospects for the hydrocarbons industry but also immense complexities.

The Minister of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) Tomas González said that its PIPE2 plan is already keeping investment in Colombia and production above a million barrels a day.

The Superior Tribunal of Pasto (Nariño) has ruled in favor of a Putumayo based indigenous association (ACIMVIO) and ruled against a prior decision from Interior Ministry to not certify the presence of the Inga group in an area of influence for a Gran Tierra Energy (TSX:GTE) exploration project.

Guerilla-initiated incidents dropped close to the average experienced during the previous Farc unilateral truce. Half were attributed to the ELN but it would be difficult to unequivocally call the rest ‘truce violations by the Farc’.

The USO claims workers have been pressured by anti-union forces in its attempt to negotiate entry to Pacific Rubiales Energy (TSX:PRE) through blackmail, and has taken to the international community to up pressure on authorities.

At one time in late May, there was a hope that oil prices were rebounding, that somewhat like 2008/2009 there would be a rapid so-called ‘V-shaped’ recovery.

Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) is worth only 11% of its value at its peak, and according to an analyst report must take quick decisive action to persevere into the future. But even with prompt action, looming obstacles remain.

Designed to boost the government’s fiscal income, the November 2014 tax reform and resulting increase in the CREE surcharge has created a strong disincentive for investment that will end up causing much more harm to state finances, says the Colombian Chamber of Oil Goods and Services (Campetrol).

The Ministry of Environment (MinAmbiente) led by its Minister Gabriel Vallejo López and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos held a review of its performance over the last five years and laid out goals for the next three, but had nothing to say on the issue of environmental licenses.

President Santos ordered a suspension of air raids against Farc camps in order to de-escalate the armed conflict and in response to the guerrilla’s unilateral ceasefire.