After months of speculation, seems like negotiations between the Government and the ELN will start on February 7 in Quito, Ecuador, five days after the ELN releases former congressman Odín Sánchez.
Oil production will continue to fall. The National Government estimated it for the financial plan for 2017 and some days ago, Mauricio Cárdenas, Minister of Finance, presented this plan.
According to the most recent audit report from the General Comptroller, royalties left by oil production and extraction in Colombia were not used in the best way by 17 departments and 22 municipalities.
The panorama presented by the Regional Economic Bulletin (BER) for the departments of Meta, Casanare, Amazonas, Guainía, Guaviare, Vaupés and Vichada, corresponding to 3Q16 was not very encouraging. 2017 will bring big challenges for Colombia’s southeastern region’s economy.
Implementing the peace agreement with the Farc will occupy much time with the Congress and Senate this coming quarter. There will probably be little time for anything else.
Óscar Sánchez, president of USO Bucaramanga said that appointing Luis Guillermo Vélez Atehourtua as head of Ecopetrol’s health administration motivated them to start the year with a peaceful takeover Bucaramanga’s CAL (medical center).
The Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) hopes to see a rebound in the sector in 2017 after concluding a negative year in 2016 which saw a steep fall in prices, lower production, investment and exploration.
After the report presented by the Office of the General Comptroller on CBI and Reficar’s contracts, there are “more questions than answers.” According to the Colombian press there would be a loss to the nation of CoP$8.5T, but the presumed cost overruns should be examined in detail.
Another tidbit from the ongoing discussion surrounding new taxes levied as part of Colombia’s tax reform: a proposed carbon emissions tax will be levied on the producers of fossil fuels, oil derivatives and importers, not on the consumers which use them.
The Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente) Luis Gilberto Murillo explained that green taxes, like a levy on carbon emissions, are important for Colombia’ sustainable development and for meeting the country’s environmental goals.
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