A forum took place at the Bogotá-based Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, jointly organized by Crudo Transparente and the Pensar Institute, with the aim of discussing the difficult relationship in Colombia between the population and the oil industry. We attended the kick off meeting and brought back this report.
Hydrocarbons Colombia was present at a Campetrol-organized conversation on the peace agreements. We brought back a brief overview of the talk.
The board of directors of the USO oil workers union said that problems in creating a dialogue with Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) have led it to convoke a general strike of the NOC’s direct and contract workers. The union claimed the strike is necessary to avoid the privatization of Ecopetrol.
The USO said that it has filed a criminal complaint against Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) president Juan Carlos Echeverry with the Attorney General’s office, accusing him of violating workers’ right to association.
After a hearing ordered by the municipal council of Simacota, Santander, Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) and Parex Resources (TSX:PXT) have clarified that the participation agreement and nearby project does not involve any unconventional techniques like fracking
Concerned by stagnant execution and technical deficiencies in royalty funded projects in Huila, the director of the National Planning Department Simón Gaviria Muñoz said the entity would assist local leaders to correct the situation, but also left a warning. This and other royalty related stories in our periodic summary.
The Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce sees bright opportunities for the region with an increase in the number of companies interested in locating in the region, and from a wide variety of disciplines. But offshore activity could prove to be key source of growth for the region and attracting new firms is an important part of its strategy.
Equion’s president María Victoria Riaño credits positive results despite hard times to a Company culture which emphasis the positive and reinforces the importance of individual workers, improving the efficiency of the company and its ability to adapt quickly and generate new ideas.
To mark the 65th anniversary of Ecopetrol’s (NYSE:EC) founding, the USO warned that the sovereignty of the NOC is under attack from the administration of President Juan Manuel Santos, who plans to privatize more of the firm’s assets.
The warnings which have emerged against fracking and unconventional production are without merit and have demonized the technique in Colombia, even though it is an opportunity to ensure energy self-sufficiency in Colombia, said Francisco Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association.