Articles on fracking and unconventional oil and gas technologies in the Colombian press increased for the fourth week in a row. But this past week, the balance was positive.
President Juan Manuel Santos announced changes to the process of applying for environmental licenses, slashing the time frame to five months, and critics have come out against the modification, arguing that it will weaken environmental protection measures and put the ecosystem at risk.
The National Authority of Environmental Licenses (ANLA) has named a new director, Fernando Iregui Mejía, a lawyer with experience in the public sector and environmental law.
The Minister of Environment Gabriel Vallejo gave one of his longest interviews yet, defended the government’s plan to allow fracking, and countered critics that questioned his environmental credentials in the ministerial role.
President Juan Manuel Santos has announced a series of changes to the approval process for environmental licenses that he says will cut the wait time down to five months but still ensure that the environment is protected.
Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) has logged a number of achievements in environmental matters with a sustainability certification, a campaign to use production waters for local irrigation; while local press highlights the role of the oil industry in reforestation. In Yopal however, problems surround a damaged pipeline.
A group of environmentalists have delivered a letter to authorities calling for a moratorium on fracking in Colombia until more studies can be performed on its impact on the environment.
While officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MiMinas) have started making the rounds to defend the regulatory framework and requirements for companies to use fracking techniques, the Minister of Housing Luis Felipe Henao has said he is concerned about the practice due to its potential impact on water sources.
After nearly two months of protests in Putumayo the government has agreed to form a permanent dialogue with the department in the Puerto Asís in order to find a solution to end the ongoing dispute where oil infrastructure and security is a principal issue.
The new Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) Gabriel Vallejo has made his first public addresses to the congress and the national park service, giving the first glimpse into the authority’s priorities under his watch. Bottlenecks in environmental licensing were not mentioned.
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