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The USO says that Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) continues to hedge and refuse to progress on the modernization of the Barrancabermeja Refinery, with the union saying that it is a must to have a “competitive” and modern refining facility.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with emission reductions organizations, Carbon War Room, during an event in the British Virgin Islands to encourage, implement and strengthen renewable energies in a policy view for the San Andrés Islands.

Authorities from Colombia and Venezuela met in Maracaibo last week and have penned an agreement to collaborate against the sale of contraband fuel on their shared border, and opened the door to selling Venezuelan fuel once again.

Colombia’s comptroller Sandra Morelli was back making rounds with radio stations this week while visiting Cartagena, criticizing what she says is the “poor planning” which has dogged the Cartagena Refinery (Reficar) project.

The governor of the Norte de Santander Department Édgar Díaz Contreras has proposed the construction of a micro-refinery with a capacity of 40,000bd to produce fuels for the region which is looking for alternatives after Venezuelan fuel sales were suspended last May.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) says it is looking to expand the access and reach of propane in energy generation and use it in areas that farther off the formal energy grid.

The Minister of Mines and Energy Amylkar Acosta has ruled out a new price freeze on diesel while transportation associations and fuel retailers repeat demands that the cost must drop.

MinMinas resently opened negotiations with various truckers’ associations and representatives of other large domestic users on the stabilization formula for gasoline and especially diesel prices.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) published an outline of the policy alignments of the formula to set fuel prices, and said that prices will remain stable in December and have actually shown a 4% decrease compared to last year.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) has presented its formula to lower fuel costs at the pump and also believes that the modernization of national refineries could also contribute to a lower price in the midterm.