News and AnalysIs for

A series of attacks and drained tankers in Putumayo from the Farc has evoked widespread outcry from authorities, as the local community and ecosystem deals with yet again with a long lasting environmental impact.

Ingecoleos is sanctioned for poor oil waste treatment practices in Aguazul while a mysterious yellow gas at the Barrancabermeja refinery raises concerns. These and other environmental stories in our periodic summary.

The Tauramena municipality, where the first public referendum against oil production was held, has changed its strategy and filed the first request in Casanare for establishing an environmental protection zone while Ecopetrol announces projects to reduce CO2 emissions. These and other environmental stories in our periodic summary.

Government and industry indifference to public opinion on unconventional resource development continues and last week our Net Promoter Score even dipped below 0.

An oil spill in Tibú pollutes the local potable water source while authorities assess potential contamination in Yopal. These and other environmental stories in our periodic wrap up.

New Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) CEO Juan Carlos Echeverry made positive (although qualified) comments about fracking. Newspapers picked them up but those were the first positive reports we had seen for a long time.

Union and community members across the country march to protect water resources, meanwhile Ecopetrol reminds locals not to eat turtle and iguana meat during Easter week. These and other environmental stories in our periodic wrap up.

Time is up on a 90-day period given by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) to local municipalities and districts to present details of protected areas, with authorities and advocates questioning the timing and reach of the decree.

Ecopetrol got some attention for its investment and spending on environmental matters, which totaled CoP$805B (US$317.9M) over the last five years. But the NOC also said it had nothing to do with a spill for which residents in Coveñas have filed a lawsuit. These and other environmental stories in our periodic wrap up.

The Minister of Environment Gabriel Vallejo contests the concept of ‘express’ environmental licenses, arguing that instead the license only now has clear procedures and timeframes, and the new system will be technical and more formal.