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The Municipality of Yopal is promoting a change in tax laws that would allow it (and others) to levy a municipal industry and commerce tax on oil operator revenues. Currently they are exempt from the tax since they are already paying royalties based on their production.

A report issued last week by Colombia’s General Controller placing the responsibility for a drought earlier this year on the shoulders of the oil industry in Casanare has brought the issue back to the front pages, as critics call for greater restrictions on seismic exploration while oil authorities push back.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) says that contracts managed by the firm in the first half of 2014 reached CoP$10T (US$5.22B), putting it in line with contracting during 2013, when the NOC’s total contract pool valued COP$20B. The NOC said that 92% was performed with national suppliers.

A report looks at testimony from residents near the exploration block COR 33, which was awarded to Alange Energy, now Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE), but has seen activity halted as environmentalists claim a natural reserve coincides with its position.

Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) is taking a successful suppliers development program from Meta to put it to work with local companies in Casanare, while Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) strengthens cacao producers and continues the Iguana roadshow to rural schools. These and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) related news.

The USO says that a strike of contracted workers last week has “changed the dynamics” of negotiations to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC), but warned that much work is still pending to reach the final accord.

Strikes, blockades and demonstrations flared up this week in different parts of the country and sectors, all supporting a wide variety of causes, but with one central target: the oil industry.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) says violence and terrorist attacks in Catatumbo have forced it to move its office in the Convención municipality, despite the pleas of residents to stay.

The National Planning Department and other authorizes have organized an expo for regional entities on the royalty system, while Meta finally has its OCAD review. Producing regions might not like the new royalty system, but other regions, such as Sabana de Torres, Santander, have used it to their advantage. These and other stories in our routine round-up of royalty related stories.

The first phase of direct negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement between Ecopetrol (NYSE:ECP) and three of its unions, led by the USO, has come to an end with no agreement. The union says the direct talks will be extended, and looks to organize workers to exert more pressure.