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This graffiti adorns a 20-meter wall on Bogotá’s busy Septima (Carrera 7 / 7^Th Avenue) in the heart of the capital’s elite neighborhood. It is virtually impossible that politicians, media types and other opinion leaders have not seen it or will not see it over the coming weeks. The inauguration of President Iván Duque has certainly reignited the debate over unconventional technologies.

The government announced that the savannas of Cinaruco (Arauca) are now part of the list of protected areas in Colombia. The development of these and more stories in our periodic Eco summary.

The firm won the Latinoamerica Verde (literally: ‘Green Latin America’) Award, for its successful environmental compensation project in Casanare.

Maria Fernanda Suarez, Minister of Mines and Energy (MinMinas), created a debate about the possibility of implementing unconventional techniques such as fracking in Colombia. Experts talked about this alternative.

There is no hotter political topic in the industry at this time than unconventionals with both the Ministers of Environment and Mines and Energy making declarations recently indicating a more open approach than that of the previous government. As might be expected, this has ‘unleashed the hounds of war’ from the anti-fracking side. Here well-known geophysicist and frequent contributor Jaime Checa gives his view, rational and balanced as always, scarce attributes in today’s world.

According to the outgoing director of Colombia’s National Planning Department (DNP), Luis Fernando Mejía, the only sustainable way to achieve Colombia’s growth, is the Green Growth.

Colombia’s new Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente), Ricardo Lozano, and new Minister of Mines and Energy (MinMinas), Maria Fernanda Suarez, openly spoke about the controversial topic of fracking.

Environmental compensation of the oil sector has been a difficult issue to develop in the country, but it seems like this topic is thriving, and the environment will be the main beneficiary. Parex announced an important environmental compensation project in the department of Casanare.

Ricardo José Lozano was appointed as the new Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente).

The development of unconventional projects is one of the main alternatives to resolve concerns about oil self-sufficiency in the long term in Colombia. However, this has generated much controversy over the use of techniques such as fracking and Colombian politicians are discussing this issue.