A national paper highlighted three examples in Colombia’s Caribbean coast of how hydrocarbons firms are both complying with environmental standards and engaging the community to create successful and positive social and ecological impacts.
The mayors of Ortega, Purificación and Melgar in Tolima joined to vent their shared concerns on royalty distribution and expedited environmental licenses issued by the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA).
Repeatedly cited as one of the drawbacks for the industry, the government announced a new framework for environmental licensing, and the Chamber of Oil Goods and Services (Campetrol) found that the proportion of licenses approved versus those filed has changed since the last year.
A local paper published a document from Caquetá professionals in the field of social research who see the region’s unique environmental riches and the impact on the social conflict as the main reasons why the region is not suited for oil production.
Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) exploration activities near Paz de Ariporo, Casanare have sparked protests over its supposed impact on the local water supply. This and other environmental stories in our periodic summary.
Little or no information on biodiversity in Colombia’s offshore blocks and lack of a clear regulatory framework for offshore are two of the issues that are getting more attention following two offshore discoveries made by Ecopetrol over the last year.
Ecopetrol releases a statement denying dumping accusations while Puerto de Tumaco authorities question the Government response to oil contamination. These and other environmental stories in our periodic summary.
The Ministry of Environment (MinAmbiente) led by its Minister Gabriel Vallejo López and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos held a review of its performance over the last five years and laid out goals for the next three, but had nothing to say on the issue of environmental licenses.
The Caquetá Planning Secretary Julián Carvajal Zamora said that officials from Emerald Energy did not attend a call to meet with affected communities before starting their exploration work, which he says is a needed step for an exploration and production license to be granted.
Colombia’s State Council has ruled to support a decision from the Casanare Administrative Tribunal to protect the Tinije Lake area from hydrocarbons exploration and production activities as an environmental reserve, in the area of the LLA-26 block.
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