We have low expectations of ‘rendering of accounts’ sessions because they are typically well orchestrated to avoid controversy and minimize the risk of criticism spiraling out of control. However we were presently surprised by the recent MinMinas session which essentially closed out the first Santos government’s management of the area.
National Hydrocarbons Agency head, Javier Betancourt has been telling audiences that MinMinas Amylkar Acosta wants the ratio of crude oil reserves to production (R/P) to be 10 years and he wants it done within five years. A bold goal that we think will require some important changes.
In the midst of a string of attacks on energy infrastructure and public service facilities, one of which killed a three year old, President Juan Manuel Santos finally took a tougher tone with the Farc, warning that their actions could results in a collapse of the peace talks in Havana.
There is progress to expand and modernize the Cartagena Refinery (Reficar), and the company says that nine of the 15 plants that must be ready to finish this long delayed project have now been completed.
A Bucaramanga based company called Allianza Ingeniería is leading a group of developers that received a patent for a technology that can treat water extracted from hydrocarbons production at a low cost and the company wants to see the technique used at a greater scale in the country.
Spanish gas utilities firm Gas Natural Fenosa says that the number of conversions to Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) in the first half of 2014 has grown by 17% year-over-year, after 9,691 vehicles were converted in Colombia.
Threats and recent attacks against tankers arriving to a river port in Puerto Asís on their way to Ecuador have forced the government to provide security escorts for the convoys. However it is able to guarantee the passage of one in every four barges, which has slowed down the transport of crude extracted in the area.
Authorities in Cúcuta have uncovered a complete illegal refinery operation using crude stolen from pipelines, while the military and local authorities contradict on the scope of a spill after a Farc attack in Putumayo in early July. These and other environmental stories from around the country.
Local hiring, road maintenance and safety standards were all discussed at departmental meetings in Casanare, where local authorities have been working to facilitate a smoother relationship between oil companies and local communities. This and other stories regarding Colombia’s roads.
The Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente) Luz Helena Sarmiento has announced the establishment of 2 million hectares of protected land, and says that the government looks to declare 2 million hectares more as part of its efforts to better adapt to climate change.