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The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) is preparing a Conpes document that would create greater incentives for investment in off-shore exploration, one of its priorities in expanding Colombia’s proven reserves.

A prominent family with livestock interests has denounced oil exploration and poor industry practices in environmental matters in Casanare in accusations filed with the country’s Attorney General, and is calling for a penal investigation into the matter.

The National Association of Financial Institutions (ANIF) sounds like the bankers association but it is in fact an economics think tank. Once every four years, it turns its quantitative and model building skills to looking at presidential elections.

The Colombian Federation of Bio-fuels (Fedebiocombustibles) published an analysis criticizing government policies that favor hydrocarbons because they look like they were formulated to benefit Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) and its goals, rather than explore other alternatives like bio-fuels.

We used press reports earlier this week to publish an article on the (supposedly) joint MinMinas / MinAmbiente decree on seismic. Now we have found the original MinAmbiente (only) press release and the draft decree.

Ecopetrol (NYSE:EC) produces 62% of Colombia’s crude so perhaps not surprising that it is the leading producer in almost every major oil department.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) released fuel prices for the month of June and immediately tried to counter skeptics that would question why the public price of fuel has stayed the same in an election season.

The General Royalty System (SGR) continues into its second year and there is no shortage of critics for the system, but it also has its supporters as well. Over the week a lineup of editorial opinions and press reports have addressed the royalties and the system used to control and award them.

Starting at the beginning of May Colombia cut off gas exports to neighboring Venezuela to guarantee a constant supply of the resource considering the El Niño weather phenomenon. Venezuelan authorities are less than pleased and say the decision could impact its supply to Colombia in the future.

Through a joint effort between the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MinMinas) and the Ministry of Environment (MinAmbiente), a new process including additional requirements will be required for companies to perform seismic tests for exploration.