When last we left Rubiales and Quifa it was a real ‘cliff-hanger’. Rubiales field had issues with produced water and partners Pacific Rubiales (TSX:PRE) and Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) had decided to shut down the STAR test at Quifa. A few months later, recently published ANH figures tell us what happened next.
Industry associations from the mining, energy and infrastructure sectors have elaborated a joint document for the government that offers proposals to alleviate problems associated with prior consultation requirements, which industry representatives say are putting at risk key projects.
The Minister of Mines and Energy Tomás Gonzalez said the government’s current formula to set the price of gasoline and diesel is working and no new fuel law is being considered. The transportation industry reacted calling for a review of the formula and taxes.
The Labor Minister Luis Eduardo Garzón went to Yopal, Casanare to discuss a new law that would limit the role of the Community Action Committees (JAC) in the hiring of local skilled and unskilled labor for the oil industry. Local leaders however accused the government of only tending to the interests of the oil companies.
The Ministry of Environment (MinAmbiente) published the decree 2021 of October 15, 2014, the document which establishes new timeframes for the decision making process that leads to an environmental license.
Interoil (OL:IOX) says that the National Hydrocarbons Agency (ANH) wants to terminate two of its production licenses for the LLA-47 and COR-6 blocks over unpaid bank guarantees and breach of contract. The company says that in COR-6 social and environmental conditions make work impossible.
Colombia’s model for managing the hydrocarbons industry might have brought positive results over the last 10 years, but it is losing force in today’s scenario, with the sector losing its competitive edge due to license delays, security problems and social conflicts, says the director of the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) oil & gas strategic studies program, Ramón Espinasa.
With the global price of oil falling to below US$90 a barrel, the government has a new problem on its hand beyond the usual triad of licensing, social conflict and security. Just based on the price difference, the national budget could be CoP$12.5T (US$6T) short of the Ministry of Finance (MinHacienda) projections
A senator from the human rights commission wants to see more positive impact from hydrocarbons on the local community, a Meta representative says the department is getting cut short on royalties. These and other stories in our regular wrap of royalty coverage.
The Minister of Environment (MinAmbiente) Gabriel Vallejo has signed off on a decree that authorizes an expedited licensing process as promised by President Juan Manuel Santos, but which has stoked push-back from environmentalists.
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