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On February 14, 2019 the Commission of Experts gave its report on the adoption of fracking / unconventional technologies for Colombian exploration and production. We have written several articles on the content. Here we talk about the press reaction.

We attended the presentation by the Commission of Experts engaged to give recommendations on fracking. The next day, we published a summary of the recommendations, last Monday we explored those in some depth and today we go back to fill in some of the details.

The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) hosted an event to announce the official launch of its Permanent Competitive Process. HCC was there.

Senator Maritza Martínez (U Party) gave her view on the development of fracking in Colombia, after the Commission of Experts said the country needs to gather more information on the matter.

Ecopetrol (NYSE: EC) reported low levels of B2E diesel stock for pipeline transport systems due to maintenance activities in the Barrancabermeja Refinery during the first weeks of February. The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) published measures to mitigate this situation and ensure distribution in the country.

The Commission of Experts gave a ‘definitive maybe’ to the development of fracking in Colombia, and the media started to speculate on the matter. Here is what the main national newspapers said.

Last week we wrote a very high-level summary of the Commission of Expert’s recommendations on fracking. This week we go one level deeper and look at the recommendations in detail. Next week will publish our summary of the commission’s findings and conclusions.

The long-awaited report of the commission of experts was presented to the public Thursday afternoon. We attended. The study concluded there was much opportunity but much uncertainty so the country should run a pilot. Which is what Ecopetrol had proposed last year.

Mechanisms of citizen participation such as popular referendums have been one of the main discussion topics in Colombia, as these has affected extractive sector development. The Constitutional Court ruled on this issue.

President Duque promised to encourage the growth of the extractive sector in Colombia. The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) published a project with the guidelines and budget to achieve it.