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In an effort to bridge the gap between communities in oil producing regions, the industry and the national government, the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) held a special event called the Knowledge Fair for the Hydrocarbons Territorial Strategy (ETH).

The former Vice-Minister and of Energy and former president of the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) Orlando Cabrales has spent less time in public eye since leaving his post last year, but recently penned a critical article on the factors that have led Colombia to a shortage of natural gas.

The president of the Colombian Chamber of Oil Goods and Services (Campetrol) Rubén Darío Lizarralde warned attendees at an event in Barrancabermeja that Colombia’s proven reserves are enough to last for only six more years, and the current government strategy will not do much to change that. Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) then responded.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) president Juan Carlos Echeverry has in the past defended what others consider high taxes on oil companies, but in a recent report a national radio chain says he sees the nearly 70% state take as being a barrier to foreign investment, affecting in particular exploration wells.

The USO held its Second National Assembly for Peace, in which it said that its work in a post-conflict it would focus on mining-energy policy, regional development and “promoting the culture of peace”.

Senator Manuel Guillermo Mora has called for the government to turn to coal instead of gas to supply thermal generators, and to establish a price stabilization fund using royalty savings.

The OCAD decision-making bodies include a multilevel representation of different government entities and have the power to decide whether a royalty project will move forward, but one academic says they must have a greater focus on planning for the long term and have an element of popular representation.

Congressional leaders called in the Minister of Mines and Energy Tomás Gonzalez and delegates from the Energy and Gas Regulation Commission (CREG) to defend their energy policies considering the uncertainty. The politicians seemed unconvinced by the official response.

Colombia’s Caribbean region has been identified as the territory where royalty investments have been the most mismanaged, while local departments reflect on royalty investments over the three year span of the General Royalty System (SGR). These and other royalty-related stories in our periodic summary.

The National Planning Department highlighted the importance of royalty resources for the post-conflict era, and has outlined changes being made to make their use more efficient.