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Through the Business Association for the Development of Orinoquia (Asorinoquia), regional government entities are looking to create public-private initiatives that would compensate for the lack of hydrocarbons royalties and finance needed infrastructure investments.

Repair work on the Caño Limon- Coveñas Pipeline has finally been completed after spending more than two months out of service after successive pipeline bombings and a conflict with the U´WA indigenous group that blocked repair crews.

President Juan Manuel Santos visited Villavicencio, Meta, delivered the environmental permit approved by the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) last week and promised support for the Llanos Refinery for Meta’s capital.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy sent its two highest ranking officials to discuss transportation infrastructure at a recent conference held by Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) transportation spin off Cenit. They announced a new regulatory structure and looked to reaffirm MinMinas commitments to large, strategic infrastructure projects.

Colombia’ lower house held a debate on the progress of the Barrancabermeja Refinery, which the local mayor says is close to getting an official start after prolonged delays. The matter will be brought up in an Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) board meeting in June.

Ecopetrol has started this year’s process to hire ground transportation, in Meta the governor says a special route will be designated for tankers and Huila-Putumayo leaders met to discuss transportation issues. Meanwhile a number of accidents and spills caused delays in Casanare and made headlines.

The national government and the U’WA indigenous community have reached an agreement that will allow repair crews to access the damaged Caño Limon – Coveñas pipeline, which has been out of service since a bombing on March 25th.

The ODL pipeline is planning a new pipeline extension that will run from Carmentea – Araguaney and together with the Yopal municipal council, Casanare Departmental Assembly and the municipal Advising Office of Planning will hold a series of community meetings to socialize the project.

The Minister of Mines and Energy Amylkar Acosta published an opinion piece in which he highlighted the gains in terms of energy security for the country, pointing out that it is one of the highest ranked nations in terms of energy security in the region, something that will be crucial to prepare for potential effects of El Niño weather phenomenon.

Members of the U´WA indigenous community finally met on April 25th to discuss an agreement that would allow repair crews in to fix the damaged Caño Limon – Coveñas pipeline but no agreement was reached.