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Technical groups of the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA) developed an environmental monitoring process for different industry projects. Here are the details.

This past week, on August 7^th, President Iván Duque completed one full year in office. A number of editorial writers evaluated the president at the completion of this milestone. We have been positive about the ANH and MinMinas (now known as MinEnergia) but the government in total has struggled with its grades.

The government filed a project to discuss the country’s general budget for next year, and authorities are looking for alternatives to guarantee these resources. Alberto Carrasquilla, Minister of Finance (MinHacienda), spoke about the role of the oil sector to guarantee this budget.

Alberto Carrasquilla, Minister of Finance (MinHacienda), presented the project for the 2020 General Budget, a week ago. The third and fourth commissions of the Senate and House of Representatives will discuss this project, but this document has already begun to generate controversy.

The Constitutional Court called on the Congress to define participation and coordination mechanisms for the development and follow-up processes of mining projects in Colombia.

The Colombian government has initiated a strategy to boost the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in the country, but concerns about loss of self-sufficiency continue. María Fernanda Suarez, Minister of Mines and Energy (MinEnergia), talked to the possibility of importing natural gas and the need for a new regasification plan in the Pacific.

Inhabitants of the Mercaderes municipality (Cauca) arranged a popular consultation themselves, to decide on the future of the industry in their territories.

The possibility of implementing unconventional techniques such as fracking has generated much discussion and speculation in the country. Rodrigo Suarez, Director of the National Environmental Licensing Agency (ANLA), spoke on this subject and rumors about possible licensing procedures to allow this technique.

American authorities fear that the government’s decision to temporarily impose a surcharge on US ethanol imports, may become a permanent measure.

The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) announced the signing of oil contracts with Parex Resources (TSX: PXT), confirming that “things are moving again.”