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 30th, 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.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) has frozen the price of biofuels which it uses in its special fuel price formula. Palm growers and their association Fedepalma rejected the measure and warned that it will bring substantial losses for their industry.
The executive director of the National Federation of Departments, Amylkar Acosta supported calls from the Colombian Petroleum Association (ACP) to President Juan Manuel Santos to reform the General Royalty System, and said it would contribute to neutralizing growing social conflict. This and other royalty related stories in our periodic summary.
The Colombian Petroleum Association published a statement summarizing some of the main conclusions from its annual congress and said that if the oil industry’s success came after a reform; the price drop offers another opportunity for further reform.
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