Our list of corporate social responsibility projects (CSR) over the last two weeks has been dominated by Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC), who has made a splash in local press through a series of different initiatives and projects. A cynic would say, “it must be an election year”, an optimist, “good job”.
Following another round of talks in a process that have stretched for more than 2 years, involving departmental and national government intervention, 10 oil operators signed an agreement with a group of local transportation firms. The number pales in comparison to the 48 oil companies operating in the department, and the largest: Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) and Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) did not sign.
The USO took to protesting in Bogotá last week, setting up protests in front of the offices of Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) to call for the reversion of its contract with Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) in an activity that the union claims involved several hundred protestors from the community of Puerto Gaitan, home to the Rubiales field gathered to reject the operation and protect against “an environmental disaster”.
Parex Resources (TSX:PXT) has installed a series of windmills that are being used to power water supply in the Caño Chiquito settlement, in the municipality of Paz de Ariporo as part of its social investment plan.
Accusations that oil production is destroying local water resources continued to make their way, while a number of oil industry institutions have embarked on campaigns to counter the idea, which is being used to advance the agenda of those opposed to oil. These and other environmental stories from local media.
The president of the National Hydrocarbons Energy Industry Workers Union (Uten) Alejandro Ospina rejected reports that affiliated workers had joined a protest of Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) in Bogotá and said there is an effort to stigmatize the industry.
Ecopetrol’s (NYSE:EC) president Javier Gutiérrez attended an event in Neiva, Huila to showcase the advances that the NOC has made in the southern region of the country, highlighting production and the return for the local community.
The USO says it has formed its team that will negotiate a new set of terms and collective bargaining agreement with Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC), and has already started training with the bargaining team.
President Juan Manuel Santos addressed the stalled peace process this week, saying in an interview with Spanish media that if he is reelected, a peace agreement could be signed by the end of the year.
Some of the stories involving Colombia’s new and controversial General Royalty System (SGR) over the past weeks included evidence of improper royalty use in the Arauca and Coveñas municipalities, a dispute between governors and the central government leads to a cancelled OCAD session and MinHacienda say there are regional entities that have forgotten to bill for approved projects.
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