A panel of authorities and experts led by the Vice-minister of Energy Orlando Cabrales participated in a seminar organized by the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) to highlight a number of policies designed to better communicate environmental practices and facts with the community in Casanare.
The USO reacted to news that Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) and Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) met to discuss the STAR secondary recovery project accusing PRE of poor management of the project and called for the NOC to not renew the production contract with the Canadian firm.
Members of the U´WA indigenous community finally met on April 25th to discuss an agreement that would allow repair crews in to fix the damaged Caño Limon – Coveñas pipeline but no agreement was reached.
The Casanare wing of the Colombian Air Force is leading a joint public service campaign with the Army’s 8th Division and oil producer Equion to combat abuses and attacks of pipelines, focusing on the area near the Bicentennial and Caño Limón- Coveñas infrastructure.
As we have reported previously, the mayor of Monterrey, Casanare had the population whipped up to vote in an anti-oil referendum this coming Sunday. Now Ecopetrol has succeeded in having the vote blocked while judges consider the constitutionality of such a referendum.
The U’WA indigenous group, who has been blocking access of repair crews to damaged sections of the Caño Limón – Coveñas pipeline, skipped a meeting scheduled for April 18th with the national government and say they will only meet for a previously established roundtable on the 25th. Meanwhile, the pipeline remains out of service.
Small diameter pipeline says it has added a line of informative sessions in addition to those required for its environmental permit and completed a diploma course that it sponsored for communities in the area of influence.
In Huila and Putumayo, the number of tankers on the road has dropped by 40% since an announcement three weeks ago from President Juan Manuel Santos that pipelines would be used instead of trucks when possible to reach the Tumaco port.
The Monterrey municipal council says it will go ahead with a public referendum to accept or reject oil exploration and production near the municipal water resources despite warnings and court rulings that this task is reserved for the national government.
Rain has reached Casanare’s Paz de Ariporo alleviating the ongoing drought which has affected the local community. But officials are now warning the rain could lead to widespread water contamination due to the high amount of animal carcasses, and accusations that the oil industry is at fault for the situation continue to fly.