News and AnalysIs for

The graph shows the history of contracts signed by the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH). The post-2014 record is not inspiring.

The government is planning to include a “tax return certificate” as part of its offer to the oil and mining industry in its pending tax reform, in an effort to improve company cash flow.

Promigas’ 2016 natural gas sector report found that Colombia has gas reserves for 14.5 years, but by adding imported gas from Venezuela and the country’s first regasification plant, the reserves will last five additional years and reach 19.5 years.

Plans for a Meta refinery under a state firm, Llanopetrol, have been marred by controversy and scandal which have once again surfaced in national and local press.

The Ministry of Environment (MinAmbiente) said that it has formed a special committee in Putumayo which will mitigate the effect of “inadequate practices of hydrocarbons production”. The committee includes 13 mayors and local authorities and institutions.

Further clouding who has authority to allow or restrict extractive activities, the Constitutional Court has ruled municipalities have the right to decide whether extractive activities, mining in this specific case, can take place. National authorities and industry associations have expressed concern.

Despite rumors that the acting National Hydrocarbons President Orlando Velandia has been named the formal president, the ANH website still lists him as interim. This lack of authority is reportedly causing problems especially over legal matters which have fallen to middle management to decide.

There is great uncertainty on many levels about the near and midterm future for the industry but the government still has three lifelines that it could offer to the industry to foster activity and investment.

The State Council ordered the halt of a citizen referendum on mining activity planned for Ibagué on October 30^th, following an injunction filed by a representative of the Mining and Hydrocarbons Association of Tolima.

The National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) launched a new program as part of its Hydrocarbons Territorial Strategy (ETH) called “Transformational Leader” which looks to establish a new model of conflict management and peace building.