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Surging costs associated with transportation, refining, social conflicts and licensing have made Ecopetrol’s (NYSE:EC) cost per barrel the second highest among state oil firms in Latina America, says a report from the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP).

The new regional vice president for the Orinoquia region of Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) Jose Cotello has already drawn a stir in local media after hosting a press trip in the Cupiagua gas plant, where he outlined changes under his watch and objectives for production.

The end of the unilateral cease fire from the Farc has put oil infrastructure back in the cross hairs of the guerrilla, with disastrous consequences for operators in the south of Colombia, in particular in Putumayo.

In a change of strategy the USO says it has direct workers with Pacific Rubiales (TSE:PRE) that have decided to affiliate themselves with the USO, and the union has submitted a list of demands.

Parex invested CoP$22.7B (US$9M) in sustainability projects in 2014 while Equión promotes farming in Yopal. These and other stories on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in our periodic summary.

With its change in strategy Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) must become a “more international –Panamerican- and definitely more profitable”, especially to log new reserves says its president Juan Carlos Echeverry.

Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) and Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) are the only Colombia focused operators participating in the historic bidding round that will open the Mexican oil industry to private capital, which has advanced to the next stage.

The flare in violence following the end of the Farc’s supposed unilateral cease fire has put pipelines and oil infrastructure back in the crosshairs of guerrilla groups. It could not come at a worse time for Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) which will see its costs rise and production fall as a result.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) has offered more details on its new exploration strategy through 2030, which looks to reestablish its exploratory success and replace its shrinking supply of reserves.

Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC), is under fire for not following through on CSR commitments in Pompeya while Gran Tierra Energy (TSX:GTE) donates a pediatric wing to the Mocoa hospital. These and other stories on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in our periodic summary.