Iván Cortés, the manager of Llanopetrol, the controversial firm created by former Meta Governor Alan Jara to build a refinery in the department, took to the press to defend the project, and assured that it is no white elephant.
The first warnings that Ecopetrol’s (NYSE:EC) honeymoon after taking over the Rubiales field could be coming to a close have emerged. Community groups are complaining that few of the NOC’s contractors have socialized their projects with locals, and want a greater focus on local hiring.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) and the national government reached an agreement with the U’wa indigious community which allowed NOC personnel to restart and secure the Gibraltar Gas plant after weeks of U’wa occupation.
In Yaguará, Huila, Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) insists that it has hired 100% of its unskilled labor locally and 30% of skilled labor, but individuals in the community have maintained blockades affecting five wells for nearly two months.
A conflict between Ecopetrol’s (NYSE:EC) subsidiary Hocol with an indigenous community in Ortega, Tolima has stretched for more than eight months and shows no signs of improvement. Now the municipality is warning it has no resources for public services as a result.
The president of Equion, María Victoria Riaño, said that the main problem facing the company today is “civil disorder” at the national level, affecting investment and company results, fueled by a lack of clear rules.
The Cartagena Refinery has reported all 34 of its production units are now up and running, completing the startup phase and the controversial expansion of its capacity.
The Nasa Kiwnas Cxhab indigenous community in Putumayo accused Gran Tierra Energy (TSX:GTE) of desecrating a holy site and exposing its community to risk, and claims that the Ministry of the Interior has not recognized its presence in an area granted an environmental license. UPDATED with commentary by Gran Tierra.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) has signed onto one of the largest efforts in Colombia to protect endangered wildlife species, in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and others. This and other environmental stories in our periodic summary.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) through its subsidiary Ecodiesel, has helped create 10,000 jobs and cleaner biofuels in Barrancabermeja thanks to an alliance with different palm oil firms in the Middle Magdalena.