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For the first time, representatives of the Oil Workers Union (USO,) the Colombian Association of Petroleum Engineers (Acipet), the Technical Institute of Petroleum and Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) met in the “Unconventional resources: challenges for Colombia” forum, that took place in Barrancabermeja.

The union said that the forum organized by the Colombian Association of Petroleum Engineers (Acipet) hosted opens the door to a much needed dialogue regarding fracking.

The company will focus on investments in four main areas: social development, improving productive capacity, developing sustainable environments and strengthening public management.

Anti-oil and mining referendums continue in different regions of the country and it is affecting mining and oil projects. Arbeláez and Pijao carried out these legal mechanisms to allow or reject the development of the mining and oil industry in their territories. As expected, the results were negative for the sectors.

Through a letter, the governor of La Guajira Weilder Guerra Curvelo, asked Juan Carlos Echeverry, CEO of Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC,) to link the department to the national economy.

The union joined protests of communities in Santander and Meta, and said that Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) must comply with the agreement it has with indigenous communities that live near Campo Rubiales.

Blockades in the departments of Santander, Meta and Casanare present delays in production for Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC.)These and other Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) stories in our periodic summary.

The union showed its discontent with the situation at Barrancabemerja Refinery, and gave an update on its work with communities in Sabana de Torres and Santurban.

Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) said that blockades and protests are affecting the operations of the country’s main producing field, Rubiales. Members of the Alto Unama, an indigenous community, hold protests in this important field and they are causing big losses.

Francisco José Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) said that exploration should be encouraged, and for this to happen it is essential to overcome legal uncertainty.