News and AnalysIs for

Colombia’s National Authority of Environmental Licenses (ANLA) expects to have terms of reference for licensing unconventional hydrocarbon projects by November of this year.

The Animals and Nature Defense Association (ADAN) has filed a claim with Colombia’s Public Minister over damages they alleged come from irresponsible environmental practices in the oil industry.

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente) signed an agreement with two institutes in order to further the study and mapping of moorlands and wetlands affected by the La Niña weather phenomenon.

As part of the 26th annual Bogota International Book Fair, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS) unveiled the book “Environmental Conflicts in Colombia”, in order to help develop the know-how of environmental authorities in the treatment and resolution of environmental conflicts in the country.

Ecopetrol has kicked off its third National Call to Biodiversity, and is on the lookout to invest US$2.2M in conservation projects that focus on the tropical dry forest. From an Ecopetrol press release, translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.

The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has developed a quick, free, online tool for assessing whether a project is, or is not likely to run into problems with the National Environmental Licensing Agency. We have tried it out and provide our comments after the first translated article.

There is a new Deputy Director of the section of the National Environmental Licensing Agency that is responsible for the technical parts of permitting. This puts her at the heart of the difficult balancing job. From an ANLA press release, translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.

As reported by El Tiempo, about a thousand plants among anthurium, cacti, ferns, orchids and bromeliads that were at risk because Bicentennial (OBC) pipeline construction, were transferred to the ecological reserve La Marteja (Casanare) and the natural park Los Libertadores (Arauca). The plants were collected along 230 km thanks to the initiative of the “Fotosíntesis” organization, the Sicim Colombia Company and OBC.

In an interview with El Espectador, MinMinas Federico Renjifo spoke about oil and environmental licenses, among other topics. Regarding oil production, Renjifo said: “This year we reached 1.014M barrels. This month we reached 1.027M barrels and we can reach 1.033M barrels. It has been a good indicator and the challenge is to maintain that production. We have increased reserves. Colombia requires a reserves increase.” He added that it is necessary to increase exploration, since there has not been a great discovery and current reserves are extracted from small wells.

Considering that the US is perhaps the most pro-unconventional hydrocarbons country and Colombia needs to start making decisions about how to manage the environmental issues, we can only hope this agreement is good news. From a MinAmbiente press release, translated and with commentary by Hydrocarbons Colombia.