News and AnalysIs for

Since we started Hydrocarbons Colombia, we have reported on a number of good-sized scandals, ones that have lasted more than a couple of days. The latest is the escape of oil from the La Lizama well. This one could have more profound impacts on the industry than any previous media circus.

The Colombian government wants to be part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Colombia undertook several changes and the government announced measures to achieve this goal.

The National Agency of Environmental Licenses (ANLA) spoke about the gaps that exist in the studies of China’s Emerald Energy to develop El Nogal block in the municipality of Morelia (Caquetá).

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) announced that it gave ‘the green light’ to the tax incentive that seeks to stimulate oil and mining activities in the country; the Certificate of Tax Reimbursement (CERT).

Colombia continues to discuss the possibility of implementing unconventional techniques to guarantee energy self-sufficiency in the long term. Vice Minister of Energy, Rutty Paola Ortiz, spoke about advances in this regulation.

The General Comptroller questioned the current royalty system for its poor execution of projects, the dispersion of resources and corruption risks.

The Colombian government pledged to reduce pollution by signing the Paris agreement. Authorities have made changes to achieve these agreements, and ethanol is key in this process. Representatives of the sector expressed their opinion on Colombia’s capacity to meet the new ethanol demand.

The president of the Colombian Natural Gas Association (Naturgas), Orlando Cabrales, proposed a reform to Colombia’s royalty system.

The National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) announced measures on data collection for environmental studies in the extractive sector. ANLA said that this positions Colombia as an international example.

The Colombian Petroleum Engineers Association (ACIPET) has been a vocal advocate for rational debate on many of the industry’s social and environmental issues. Late last week they issued this press release on the fracking debate and kindly gave us permission to produce an English translation.