News and AnalysIs for

Mechanisms of citizen participation such as popular referendums have been one of the main discussion topics in Colombia, as these has affected extractive sector development. The Constitutional Court ruled on this issue.

The National Institute of Roads (Invías) and the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) are studying the option of leveraging the Works for Taxes initiative and develop projects in Casanare. These and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stories in our periodic summary.

Transparency International recently published its Corruption Perception Index (CPI). Boards and ethical investors will be paying attention. After the scandals of recent years, corruption has become a key issue with voters as well.

Authorities confirmed that thanks to the General System of Royalties (SGR), the regions were able to receive important resources to develop social investment projects. These and other stories in our periodic Royalties summary.

The Union spoke about the importance of the industry in Colombia, and how transitioning into a cleaner energy matrix should be done in a responsible way.

Slowly but surely, Infrastructure for Taxes has been positioning itself as one of the industry’s main opportunities to positively impact Colombia’s rural areas. Politicians highlighted the development of its first project from the oil and gas industry using this program. Our Bottom-Line returns to the theme of local and elite communications as it applies here.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC), Equion and GeoPark (NYSE: GPRK) spoke about the successful development of their social investment projects in their areas of influence. These and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stories in our periodic summary.

I was in Canada over the year-end holidays and got to spend a lot of time watching television sports (a favorite pastime). That also meant I watched a lot of commercials which, these days, means watching a lot of ads for the Trans Mountain Pipeline.

The boom of anti-oil referendums in producing regions keeps generating concerns in the industry. The municipalities are still trying to develop these mechanisms (despite the Constitutional Court’s ruling that they have no force) and the Yopal Council ruled on this issue.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) spoke about its successful social investment projects in Arauca, Meta and Putumayo. These and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stories in our periodic summary.