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Claudia González, director of the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) spoke about fracking and delays in decisions for the industry.

The sector is facing a boom of popular referendums, which is creating legal uncertainty among investors. Germán Arce, MinMinas, spoke about the sector and its benefits for country and the department of Meta.

Colombia aims to increase natural gas production and there are many plans to achieve it in the short and medium term. Four companies have gas projects to develop in the Lower Magdalena Valley (VIM) during the next nine months.

The Colombian Chamber of Goods and Services (Campetrol) talked about the potential of unconventional oil deposits in the country and the options to solve the reserves deficit in the short term.

The coal-mining company Drummond announced that it is ready to explore unconventional natural gas in the departments of La Guajira and Cesar. The has firm signed four contracts with the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH).

Francisco José Lloreda, president of the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) said that exploration should be encouraged, and for this to happen it is essential to overcome legal uncertainty.

Representatives of Shell (LON: RDSB) and Anadarko (NYSE: APC) were present at the ExpoBarranquilla 2017. They talked about their perspectives and the companies’ plans in the Colombian Coast. Anadarko announced that it had selected the city as its base.

Concerns in the private sector are growing because of recent popular referendums against mining and oil projects in the country. Several municipalities have announced their intention to carry out popular consultations that could affect the development of the mining and oil sector.

There are many offshore projects to develop in the Caribbean Sea and it has attracted the attention of many cities to invite companies to their territories. Oil firms are already starting to choose where to set up their facilities.

Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) wants to start recovering the reserves lost because of the oil crisis and low exploration in recent years. The company has high expectations for two wells.